Peter Weibel 1944 – 2023

, Credit: Peter Weibel

He was always controversial and uncomfortable, cared little for conventions, broke taboos. Throughout his life, he indulged in curiosity – for him, the future was nothing to be afraid of. For many years, Peter Weibel also shaped the direction of Ars Electronica – from 1986 as artistic advisor, from 1992 to 1995 as artistic director. Unforgotten is his very first “Ars Electronica text”, which appeared in 1984 as a supplement to the festival catalogue. Peter Weibel passed away on March 1, 2023. We express our condolences to his colleagues, friends and companions.

1984: Hannes Leopoldseder and Peter Weibel, Photo: Sigrid Sator

1984: Der Künstliche Wille (The Artificial Will) / Peter Weibel, Photo: Sepp Schaffler

1984: Der Künstliche Wille (The Artificial Will) / Peter Weibel, Photo: Sepp Schaffler

1984: Der Künstliche Wille (The Artificial Will) / Peter Weibel, Photo: Sabine Bitter

1984: Der Künstliche Wille (The Artificial Will) / Peter Weibel, Photo: Sepp Schaffler

1984: Der Künstliche Wille (The Artificial Will) / Peter Weibel, Photo: Sepp Schaffler

1984: Lecture “Die Ästhetik des digitalen Bildes” (The aesthetics of the digital image), Photo: Sepp Schaffler

1986: Peter Weibel at the Symposium of the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Peter Schaffler

1986: Peter Weibel at the Symposium of the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Peter Schaffler

1988: Symposium “Philosophie der neuen Technologien” (Philosophy of new technologies) in the context of the Ars Electronica Festival

1989: Opening Reception at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Felix Nöbauer

1993: Symposium “Artificial Life” at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Felix Nöbauer

1993: Opening of the exhibition “Genetische Kunst” (Genetic Art) at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Felix Nöbauer

1993: Opening of the exhibition “Genetische Kunst” (Genetic Art) at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Felix Nöbauer

1993: Jury of the Prix Ars Electronica with Peter Weibel

1993: Prix Forum “Interactive Art” and “Computer Music” at the Ars Electronica Festival

1994: Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Felix Nöbauer

1999: Peter Weibel at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: Sabine Starmayr

1999: 20 Years Ars Electronica, Photo: Johannes Wegerbauer

2004: Symposium “Timeshift – the world in 25 years” at the Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: rubra

2004: Symposium “Timeshift – the world in 25 years” beim Ars Electronica Festival, Photo: rubra

2019: Ars Electronica History Summit, Photo: Philipp Greindl

2019: Ars Electronica History Summit, Photo: Philipp Greindl

Note: On Talks & Lectures, the video collection of the Ars Electronica Archive, you’ll find several talks Peter Weibel has given at Ars Electronica. From “Aesthetics of the Digital Image” in 1984 to the Ars Electronica History Summit 2019.