Yesterday we thought we were the crown of creation, today we must face the fact that we are only a small – albeit powerful – part of the planet’s ecosystem. Consequently, the future of our species is inextricably linked to the prosperity or demise of the bigger picture. Meet artists, researchers and activists who are asking how we can distribute resources fairly, what microalgae reveal about economies, and which lies the oil industry is telling us.
Projects
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21-22 USA
Thierry Loa (CA)
An immersive VR journey from above across the United States of America at the dawn of the Anthropocene.
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G80
Fragmentin (CH)
G80 is an interactive installation that proposes a contemporary interpretation of Richard Buckminster Fuller’s World Game: a strategy simulation tool inspired by War Games, which aimed at an equitable distribution of resources on a planetary scale. Created in the cybernetic era in the early 1960s, it embodies the promise of computation and mathematical models for…
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How to negotiate with a material
Eugénie Desmedt (AT/FR)
Inspired by scientific research towards using mycelium as an economically viable material, the research project How to negotiate with a material sheds light on the protocols of power and control that come to play when using another living being for the production of a good.
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INCREASE: Intelligent Collections of Food-Legume Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems
Kerstin Neumann (DE), Roberto Papa (IT)
The INCREASE CSE explores thousands of different beans PGR thanks to the help of citizens who contribute to data collection on an unprecedented number of different locations, helping to better understand, not only many phenotypic traits, but also the adaptation of common beans in different environments.
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Into the E-Metropolis
Akwasi Bediako Afrane (GH), Anwar Sadat Mohammed (GH), Cyrus Khalatbari (FR/CA)
Into the E-Metropolis is a workshop-based initiative that focuses on reshaping the narrative of Ghana’s relationship with electronic waste.
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Linz Center of Mechatronics (AT) Shadowgram: Collective visions on sustainability and circular economy
A mechathon approach by Linz Center of Mechatronics and the Ars Electronica Futurelab Ars Electronica Futurelab’s innovative social brainstorming Shadowgram offers a unique blend of creativity and practicality, providing an engaging platform for collecting inspiring and thought-provoking projects. Together with the Linz Center of Mechatronics, Ars Electronica is inviting audiences this year to share their hope-giving…
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Smoke and Mirrors
Beatie Wolfe (GB)
Smoke and Mirrors uses art to communicate six decades of climate data, specifically rising methane levels, set alongside the verbatim advertising slogans deployed by the Big Oil industry to “Deny, Doubt and Delay” the climate data and awareness through the decades.
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Solar Protocol
Tega Brain (AU), Alex Nathanson (US), Benedetta Piantella (US), Solar Protocol Collective (INT)
Solar Protocol is a network of solar-powered servers, installed and maintained by volunteers around the world. This community-run cloud, powered by renewables, collectively hosts the Solar Protocol web platform and other web projects, serving them from wherever there is the most sunshine in the network. The work explores natural rather than Artificial Intelligence.
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The Solar Share
DISNOVATION.ORG (FR/PL/CA)
The Solar Share project challenges prevailing economic models with insights from sunlight-harvesting organisms that are crucial to life’s metabolism. Featuring a one-square-meter microalgae bioreactor, it highlights human dependence on photosynthesis and proposes edible microalgae as a new economic unit, representing daily biomass yield. It offers a transformative economic system that reintegrates human metabolism and energy…
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Well-tangled
TOKYO | Yasuaki Kakehi Lab, The University of Tokyo (JP)
Well-tangled explores the process of skilfully combining diverse elements (entanglements) to create a state of harmony amidst chaotic relations. This theme transcends a human-centric perspective, listening to the inner voices of matter and unpredictable elements. Focusing on water, living organisms, and threads, we seek to discover a balanced state where different beings coexist.
Events
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Going green! Stories of reinvention, disruption and systemic change to reclaim our future
Studiotopia Day Conference
The Studiotopia Day Conference takes this year’s theme “HOPE—who will turn the tide” as a starting point to look at inspiring and hope-giving efforts made by companies, start-ups, initiatives, artists and policy makers to mitigate and fight dystopian prospects of our future on this febrile planet. The second day of the theme symposium brings together…
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Into the E-Metropolis
Akwasi Bediako Afrane (GH), Anwar Sadat Mohammed (GH), Cyrus Khalatbari (FR, CA)
Into the E-Metropolis: TRONSFORMATION is a workshop facilitated through hacking.
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KLIMAZONE: reloaded A theatrical journey of sound
Rainer Gutternigg (AT), Manu Mitterhuber (AT)
This multi-sensory theater installation tells a tale not only about our climate or even of our climate, but seeks to make it palpable. It works with sensory understanding instead of straight play.
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Low Carbon Food System
Ling Tan (UK/SG)
Food, with its close association with culture, is something we all have in common, breaking down barriers and bringing us all together.
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Town Hall Meeting: Sustainability Practices for Cultural Organizations
Christl Baur (DE)
At a time of unprecedented environmental challenges, cultural institutions have a responsibility to lead by example in adopting sustainable practices. Many cultural professionals are eager to do their part to mitigate the climate crisis, but where do we begin? This event brings together representatives from festivals, museums and other cultural institutions to explore practical strategies…
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Wastescapes
Nina Mršnik (SI)
Wastescapes is a workshop about the beauty of waste plastic. We have been “toasting” waste plastic in plates from which we make furniture and other objects, but are very interested in different applications of waste plastic. Participants will be presented with waste plastic that they will cut into shapes and “toast” into pictures. All the…