In Kepler's Gardens

Once again, the spacious park areas, the large, new buildings and the modern infrastructure on the campus of the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) offer the best possible conditions for the main location for the Ars Electronica Festival 2021. Themed areas will feature programs that include lectures and presentations, performances and concerts. The create your world festival of the young generation also takes place here. Conferences will be held and exhibitions displayed in the university buildings located around the park.

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Opening Hours

THU Sept. 9, 2021	10 AM – 6 PM
FRI Sept. 10, 2021	10 AM – 6 PM
SAT Sept. 11, 2021	10 AM – 9 PM
DUN Sept. 12, 2021	10 AM – 6 PM

Prix Forum: A Pandemic Didn’t Stop the Sound

Alexander Schubert (DE), Rashin Fahandej (US), Douglas McCausland (US), Cedrik Fermont (CD/BE/DE)

The Prix Forum – Digital Musics & Sound Art is an open discussion between the top three winners of Prix Ars Electronica 2021 and the jury.

AI x Civil Society: How AI infrastructures can advance the public good

Caroline Sinders (US), Kilian Kleinschmidt (DE), Glacier Kwong (HK), Simon Weckert (DE), Julia Kloiber (AT)

A panel dealing with political, societal and cultural changes and challenges brought on by artificial intelligence.

AI x Digital Humanism

$teven Ra$pa (US), Agnieszka Wykowska (IT), Rashin Fahandej (US), Agnieszka Pilat (US), Jillian York (US) , Martin Rauchbauer (AT)

As the driving factor of societal change, digitalization needs to be negotiated. However, in order for the “real work” to begin, a universal commitment to putting the social dimension at the core of technological development and digitalization is a key factor. Under the umbrella of Digital Humanism panelists come together to discuss how – through combining critical artistic engagement and collaboration across scientific disciplines – digital technologies can be shaped to serve as a means of strengthening and disseminating humanistic and social values.

AI x Feudalism: Digital serfdom in the world of Big Data, between property rights, empowerment, and content control

Sophie Zhang (US), Renata Ávila (GT), Frederike Kaltheuner (DE), Evgeny Morozov (BY/US)

From redemption and liberation to restriction, if not imprisonment, the same data sets can mean very different things to different people. Generally speaking: Data is power. But whose power are we talking about?

AI Lab Conference Day

The AI Lab conference gives a platform to concepts, projects and individual actors who explores scientific and technological aspects of AI, as well at the impact the development and deployment of artificial intelligence has on art, culture and society as a whole.

AI x Media Literacy: A Communication Problem?

Kyriaki Goni (GR), Meredith Broussard (US), Martina Mara (AT), Kanta Dihal (NL), Katrin-Cécile Ziegler (DE)

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic in the media. General interest and awareness regarding artificial intelligence (AI) has increased strongly. Therefore, media coverage of AI has become more and more prominent. But what image of AI is transmitted to the public through the media? What aspects do media focus on, what are the images transmitted? What are the possible effects on social perception of AI?

AI x Music: The Question of Autonomy and Human Intention in Art & AI (Episode II)

Davide Quayola (IT), Paola Torres Núñez del Prado (PE), Leslie Garcia (MX), Ali Nikrang (AT)

During two panels designed by Ars Electronica in collaboration with Mutek Montréal, a group of established panelists with diverse backgrounds will debate the question of autonomy and human intention in AI-related art.

AI Lab Exhibition

What visions, expectations and fears do we associate with the idea of a future, all-encompassing artificial intelligence? In the AI Lab Exhibition, various artists address this question with their works.

Electronic Theatre: On-Site & Online Screening II

First launched as an open-air show at Ars Electronica in 1987, the Electronic Theatre presents a selection of best works chosen by the jury. It showcases current productions that are characterized by their artistic content along with cultural and technological innovation.

Art Thinking Forum

Hakuhodo x Ars Electronica

The Art Thinking Forum is a platform created jointly by Ars Electronica and Hakuhodo to discuss and exchange ideas on how to utilize art for a better society. The forum will discuss the role of art in the future through cutting-edge examples of creative chemical reactions between various fields and art.

AVATAR ROBOT CAFE DAWN ver.β

Ory Yoshifuji (JP)

Avatar Robot Cafe is a social implementation project to develop “OriHime,”an avatar robot that can be operated by people who have limited mobility and help people with disabilities to have jobs. We are presenting questions and solutions for a society where employment of the disabled is not enough. Join us at the demonstration and find out more about our cafe and its cause.

Big Concert Night: Sonitus aeternus – The Bruckner 9 Project

Bruckner Orchester Linz (AT)

Once again, Ars Electronica’s Big Concert Night goes on a grand voyage of discovery. After exploring the world of robotics and AI, encountering digital images and engaging with dance and theater, the focus this year is on the core of all music: the acoustic basis for sound and the space that sound can create. On the one hand, we examine the physical space that sound waves traverse and create, but of course we will also explore the metaphysical multidimensions that sound opens up in the process of becoming music.

BIO AUSTRIA Farmer’s Market

BIO AUSTRIA (AT)

BIO AUSTRIA Farmers’ Market: Organic grows on the best soil. Organic farmers from BIO AUSTRIA know the value of soil, because it is the basis for the production of our daily food. Plants, animals and humans benefit from healthy soil. Therefore, organic farms care for the soil — for the benefit of all.

Branch Magazine Symposium

This year’s theme conference explores how the internet should serve our collective liberation and ecological sustainability. Branch Magazine, the recipients of the first-ever Ars Electronica Award for Digital Humanity, offers four panels unpacking climate justice, solarpunk, sustainable digitalization, solidarity and care as well as low-carbon design and education.

Branch Magazine Symposium: Climate Change Education and the Internet

Chair: Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino (UK) Low Carbon Design Institute, Panelists: David Jennings (UK) XR Academy, Anshuman Bapna (IN) Terra.do, Emma Richards (UK) The Carbon Literacy Project

This panel discussion will explore the impact of the internet on education models for climate change. From open resources, to online training and social-media powered snackable information, the internet has completely changed what universal and effective education models look like, or has it?

Branch Magazine Symposium: Closing Plenary with Q&A

Michelle Thorne (DE/US), Chris Adams (DE/UK), Christine Lariviere (CA), Andres Colmenares (CO/ES), Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino (UK), Renata Ávila Pinto (GT)

What practices are emerging, and what will we take with us from today? How might the internet serve our collective liberation and ecological sustainability? What is the most elegant next step?

Branch Magazine Symposium: Intercitizenships and the Internet(s) of Solidarity and Care

Speakers: Eliza Anyangwe (CM/UK) Storyteller and editor. Founder of The Nzinga Effect, Felipe Castelblanco (CO/US) Multidisciplinary artist, researcher and initiator of The Para-site School, Pia Mancini (IT) co-founder & CEO at Open Collective, Host: Andres Colmenares, Co-director, IAM & The Billion Seconds Institute (CO/ES)

In this panel we will discuss how words can help us shape better worlds and become thinking tools to address the ongoing crisis of imagination by cultivating a shared sense of identity and belonging to Planet Earth. We’ll explore this idea through a set of hypothetical questions around the concept of intercitizenships.

Branch Magazine Symposium: Welcome and Opening Plenary

Hosts: Michelle Thorne (US/DE) Editor, Branch Magazine and Senior Program Officer, Mozilla, Chris Adams (UK/DE) Editor, Branch Magazine and Director, The Green Web Foundation

We are dreaming of a sustainable and just internet. How might we shift the digital world technically, politically and aesthetically? Can the internet become fossil-tree by 2030? What does a carbon-aware internet look like?

Branch Magazine Symposium: Solarpunk and Other Worlds

Host: Christine Lariviere (CA) Climate Communications; Speakers: Luiza Prado (BR), artist, writer, and researcher, Sarah Friend (CA) artist and software developer, Jay Springett (UK) strategist and writer

What kind of stories should we be telling in the context of a climate-changed world, and what role does technology and the internet play in this narrative?

Call to Action!

At the Call to Action! panel discussion, young artists and political activists will explore protest culture and forms of civil disobedience. The starting point for the discussion will be two film works that won awards in the Prix Ars Electronica’s u19-create your world category.

Conducting Spaces / Ableton Open Lab

Ableton Live (DE), MiMU Gloves (UK), University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (AT), Ars Electronica Linz (AT), Adrián Artacho (ES/AT), Daniel Kohlmeigner (AT)

In this experimental open lab, festival visitors can discover and expand their skills in music programming. Conducting electronic components can be tried out with the MiMU Gloves. With the support of Ableton Certified Artist Daniel Kohlmeigner, simple and complex sound carpets can be woven.

Conducting Spaces

Ableton Live (DE), MiMU Gloves (UK), University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (AT), Ars Electronica Linz (AT), Adrián Artacho (ES/AT)

The performance with the company of music and the artist Adrián Artacho (soundconcept) traces the dimension of “eternity” as a state and in doing so also questions a current sense of time in post-Covid times.

create your world Festival 2021

This year’s create your world festival takes its title very seriously and literally: It aims to provide opportunities to think about present and future scenarios in a lighthearted way. It offers a platform for young people to exchange ideas and have a good time together. Utopias may be created and unrealistic thoughts exchanged. Laughter is allowed and trust can be (re)built.

Prix Ars Electronica „u19–create your world“ Exhibition

Young Professionals, Young Creatives (AT)

This year’s exhibition of the 23 winning projects in the u19–create your world category once again shows a colorful mix of refreshing ideas, critical projects and research approaches by children and young people. The exhibition will be presented as an interactive platform at the festival by the young people themselves. The winners will get to know each other and can exchange new ideas.

Award Ceremony u19–create your world

The Award Ceremony will focus on the Prix Ars Electronica winners in the “u19 – create your world” category.

“Als ich mit Diskriminierung in IT-Systemen konfrontiert war und es nicht länger hinnehmen wollte” II

Doris Allhutter (AT), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Technology Assessment

Dieser Workshop wendet die dekonstruktive Methode des Mind Scripting an, um den Einfluss zu verstehen, den selbst Technologien, die wir ablehnen, auf uns haben können. Anhand unserer eigenen Erinnerungen als experimentelle Ressource werden wir untersuchen, wie sich Diskriminierung und Privilegien in unseren Praktiken materialisieren. Dies zielt darauf ab, kollektive Handlungsfähigkeit und Aktivismus zu entwickeln.

Demokratie Repair Café – Society and Technology

Zukunftsrat Demokratie (AT), European Public Sphere (EU), Constitutional Innovation Hub Graz (AT), Bayrisches Forschungsinstitut für Digitale Transformation (DE), Technische Universität München (DE), Open Innovation in Science Center, LBG (AT)

All parts of society should be able to participate in the development and deployment of technologies. The European Public Sphere is a space where people are free to enter, discuss, listen and leave. We propose visitors take part in a world café to gain insights about creative communication, different democratic decision-making processes and dynamic facilitation.

Expert Tour: What is music to … media-culture(s) / media-art(s) / human post-digital culture(s)

Werner Jauk (AT), Alexandra Röck (AT/DE)

The Sound-Art-Parcours is a long-standing Ars Electronica tradition. The tour traverses the plurality of relationship spaces of music / sound art and the media arts by listening. Theoretical reflection and conversations with the artists, personal as well as individual physical experience, experiencing, immersing oneself in the mediality of sound.

Eyes on LIT – Presentation LIT Projects

FEST.ENGAGIERT

ULF – Unabhängiges LandesFreiwilligenzentrum (AT)

FEST.ENGAGIERT is the ideal meeting place for everyone who wants to volunteer and institutions that are looking for volunteers. Here, Upper Austrian institutions, associations and volunteer projects can present the diverse opportunities that open up for volunteers under their roof.

Festival University Stage Program

Starting on Thursday, selected artists from the festival and other creative thinkers will gather here to interact with each other and (re)present their respective projects and ideas.

Festival Enrollment

Supported by Sparkasse Oberösterreich

Immerse yourself in the first Festival University of Johannes Kepler University and Ars Electronica! In the form of a “Festival Enrollment”, you can experience the Festival University in the context of Ars Electronica 2021 through a selected program.

Frau Sammer

A very old lady with dementia, Ms. Sammer was born in Graz an der Mur in 2016. It’s about everyday neighborhood conflicts, hipster cults and sometimes even love. With synth sounds, electric bass, two voices, rap and assi-sacral hymns the four Sammers show themselves shrill and quiet, virtuosic and virtual, amateurish and absolutely professional.

Prix Forum: Im/Material Infrastructures

Samaneh Moafi / Forensic Architecture (FA), masharu (NL/RU), tranxxeno lab / Adriana Knouf, PhD (US), Jens Hauser (DE/FR/DK)

The Prix Forum – Artificial Intelligence & Life Art is an open discussion between the top three winners of Prix Ars Electronica 2021 and the jury.

LIT Exhibition

While art and science once fed from a common source, the two disciplines were steered in separate directions at the end of the Renaissance. The rise of media art in the mid-20th century marks a turning point in this divergent development. Technological and scientific achievements were absorbed by art and advanced to become the raw material of aesthetic expression.

Model boat lab

Schiffsmodellbauclub „Titanic Linz“ (AT)

In this Open Lab, all generations can build model boats with different drives themselves and try them out right away! The enthusiastic model building friends of the Linz Model Ship Club “Titanic Linz” would like to pass on the fascination of model building and model ships to young people and are designing a craft station.

Music Summit

mica – music austria (AT), Universität für Weiterbildung Krems (AT), Ars Electronica (AT), Österreichischer Musikrat (AT)

The project initiative of mica – music austria, the University of Continuing Education Krems, the Ars Electronica Festival and the Austrian Music Council aims to advance the professionalization of musicians as modern entrepreneurs in the music business. To this end, representatives from education, the music industry and politics will be invited to a “Music Summit” in order to engage in a joint dialogue and design formats that are open to all music makers-regardless of their educational background.

LAB ON STAGE: Phantom Data in our bodies and imagination II

Adriana Torres Topaga, Martyna Lorenc

This workshop undertakes a performing arts’ approach. Our departure is the embodiment of imagination and perceptual processes.

Preparing to Become Transxxeno: Deeper Time @JKU

Adriana Knouf, PhD (US)

In this workshop, through an attention to the deeper times that are intertwined with our daily lives, we will take some small steps that attempt a perturbation of our lives, that will ultimately help prepare us to become tranxxeno.

PRIX Awards Ceremony

The award ceremony is a chance to see all of this year’s award-winning works and winners together.

Prix Forum

The Prix Forum is an open discussion between the top three winners of Prix Ars Electronica 2021 and the jury.

RADIO CYBORG TRANSMITTER

Reni Hofmüller, Ilse Weber / esc medien kunst labor (AT)

Based on the sound worlds of the Radio Cyborg Transmitter, a new piece is created through the sound-generating apparatuses (sensors), in the course of which our perception is challenged and sensitised at the same time. The Radio Cyborg Transmitter uses Geiger counters and other sensors to record emission values such as temperature, humidity, radiation (UV radiation, electromagnetic waves) and fine dust. The live measured data is converted into sound, a constantly changing soundscape is created – the performance space becomes audible.

Simple Machines

Ugo Dehaes (BE)

Simple Machines is a lecture-performance in which we see how robots are born, from slimy cocoons to shiny machines. Through artificial intelligence, these creatures learn how to dance by themselves and create their own show.

Siri, such “Programmiererin”: Was tun gegen den Digital Gender Divide in Österreich?

Ars Electronica x Initiative Digitalisierung Chancengerecht, Ingrid Brodnig (AT), Christiane Spiel (AT), Gerfried Stocker (AT), Carina Zehetmaier (AT), Mariana Karepova (AT), Martina Mara (AT), Doris Schmidauer (AT)

In the context of Ars Electronica 2021, the “Initiative Digitalisierung Chancengerecht” (IDC) launched by Doris Schmidauer invites high-ranking experts from the fields of education, technology, business, culture and media to a panel discussion, which we will address the following questions: What are the causes of the digital gender divide? What concrete measures need to be taken in Austria to create digital equality of opportunity for women?

Sound Park – auditory scenes

In einer von visuellen Reizen dominierten Welt kann die auditive Wahrnehmung eine Oase der Ruhe sein. Der Klangpark – im Keplergarten der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz – bietet die Möglichkeit, sich zu entspannen und sich auf einen aktiven Hörprozess einzulassen. Die BesucherInnen sind eingeladen, die Augen zu schließen und ein klangliches Bewusstsein für einen ihnen unbekannten Raum entstehen zu lassen.

Spotlight Tour

Begleiten Sie uns während des Ars Electronica Festivals bei täglichen Rundgängen in Deutsch oder Englisch durch die Ausstellungen am JKU Campus. Mit unseren WE GUIDE YOU Touren bekommen Sie einen umfassenden Gesamteindruck über das Festival und verpassen kein Highlight!

STARTS Day

The Science+Technology+Arts = STARTS Initiative is a program of the European Commission that encourages synergies between the arts and technology that support the innovation industry and society. STARTS promotes the inclusion of artists in research and innovation activities throughout Europe.

STARTS Day: Afternoon Session

Anastasia Pistofidou (GR), Marion Real (FR), Lucas Evers (NL), Michela Magas ( UK/SE/HR), Areti Markopoulou (GR), Karin Fleck (AT), Silke Hofmann (DE), Sophia Guggenberger (AT), Eugenia Morpurgo (IT), Filippo Nassetti (IT), Vincenzo Reale (IT), Malou Beemer (NL), Anke Loh (DE), Sandra Nicoline Nielsen (DK), Tim van der Loo (NL), Loreto Binvignat Streeter (CL/ES), Alexander Bello (BE/MX/US/CA)

STARTS Talk: In Conversation with Anastasia Pistofidou & Marion Real; Fabrication Deep Dive: On the future of sustainable manufacturing; MADE IN YOUR CITY A NEW VALUE CHAIN FOR FASHION

STARTS Day: Morning Session

Territorial Agency (INT), Lucas Evers (NL), Mar Santamaría-Varas (ES), Tactical Tech (INT), Geocinema (INT), Julie Freeman (UK), Mariana Lanari (BR/NL), Obvious Collective (FR), Prof. Elena Simperl (UK), Helene Guillaume (UK/USA), David De Roure (UK)

STARTS Talk: In Conversation with Territorial Agency; Data Deep Dive; Creating with Data: From Arts to Entrepreneurship

STARTS Prize ’21 Exhibition

The Ars Electronica Festival will present the STARTS initiative and a selection of the award-winning and nominated works for the 2021 STARTS Prize: From Circular Economy to the Relationship between Ecology and Technology, from Digital Humanism to Empathic Approaches to Artificial Intelligence.

Symposium „Civil Society of the Future: Co-Creation works.“

ULF – Independent Regional Volunteer Center (AT)

At this symposium, national and international policymakers, experts, NGOs, NPOs, volunteers and other interested parties will exchange ideas about innovations and forward-looking opportunities for volunteering in general and in times of COVID-19.

Symposium Perspectives on Political Education: NEULAND – A Society on Expedition

Pädagogische Hochschule Oberösterreich x Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich

The world is in a phase of upheaval, virtually on an expedition to the NEW LAND. Science-based approaches and rational action are being disrupted by populism, conspiracy theories and religious battles. Social thinking and action as well as a basic humanitarian attitude are indispensable in such a situation. Education is an indispensable prerequisite.

Symposium Universitas

Johannes Kepler University Linz (AT)

How can young people get a head-start to prepare for the world of tomorrow and upcoming challenges? This symposium will explore digital technologies and their impact on society, especially regarding university teaching and research. The various topics in the program will spark discussion; topics include current positions and insight in regard to future skills, transdisciplinary collaboration in science and academia, innovative educational methods, micro-credentials, and alternative metrics to measure scientific output.

Symposium Universitas: Day 1

Ulf-Daniel Ehlers (DE), Markus F. Peschl (AT), Manuela Naveau (AT), Daniel J. Lang (DE), Christopher Lindinger (AT), Kerstin Pell (AT), Patricia Stark (AT)

Keynote (Ulf-Daniel Ehlers): Rethinking universities. Potentials and scenarios for higher education in the future

Symposium Universitas: Day 2

Sarah de Rijcke (NL), Dominic Orr (DE), Martin Ebner (AT), Martina Mara (AT), J. Philipp Schmidt (DE), Christopher Lindinger (AT), Kerstin Pell (AT)

Keynotes by Sarah de Rijcke: Research Metrics & Transdisciplinary research: an unhappy marriage? and J. Philipp Schmidt (online): Academic credentials, opportunity, and equity

Talent Talks

The “Talent Talks” offer the opportunity to gain in-depth insights into some of the artworks in the u19-create your world exhibition by this year’s Prix Ars Electronica winners. In the course of short interviews, the artists will talk about the genesis of their projects and their ideas, about creativity and visions for the future.

The Experts of the Future

Ars Electronica Futurelab (AT)

The Ars Electronica Futurelab is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and some of its young members – who have been a part of the team for less than 25 months–had a special idea to contribute to this event. Their goal was to collect the opinions of renowned futurologists from all over the world to speculate about possible future narratives for the next 25 years.

Prix Forum: The Re-enchantment of Humanism

Guangli Liu (CN), Veneta Androva (BG), Erick Oh (KR/US), Helen Starr (TT)

The Prix Forum – Computer Animation is an open discussion between the top three winners of Prix Ars Electronica 2021 and the jury.

Theme Exhibition: Digital && Life

This year’s Ars Electronica Festival theme exhibition is dealing with the many different forms the relationship between the digital and all scales of life can assume. The artworks demonstrate the links technologies evolve to living things from the tiniest microbial organisms to the methods of examining our bodies and even shows the potential to facilitate the creation of life itself.

TRUE NORTH – Screening at the Zirkus des Wissens

TRUE NORTH is a feature-length 3D animated film telling the story of a family held captive in a brutal North Korean political prison camp. Based on years of research and interviews with former political prisoners who defected to South Korea, the film incorporates elements of the real-life experiences of individuals who endured some of the worst human rights abuses of our time.

The Wandering Mind

Gershon Dublon (US), Xin Liu (CN), with guest artist Xiao Xiao (US/FR)

Shape your dreams with the sounds of our world. The Wandering Mind is an AI-powered micro-sampler that assembles winding soundscapes from thousands of global field recordings found online. In curated performances, group naps and guided mind-wanderings, we convene collective actions of sleeping together. In this special series for Ars, entitled “Field Sketches from Imaginary Travels,” guest performer Xiao Xiao combines the ambient soundscapes of Wandering Mind with improvisational theremin, keyboard, and vocals.

Zanshin

Zanshin (Gregor Ladenhauf) is a musician, sound artist and producer of electronic music from Vienna, Austria. The name “Zanshin” is a concept from Japanese martial arts and translates roughly as “balanced mind”, reflecting his many inspirations and interests – correspondingly he tries to channel his ideas mostly into three creative outlets: As Zanshin he releases music on Affine Records and disko404 and his tracks and remixes are covering a broad range from driving, polyrhythmic dancefloor affairs to experimental beatless sonic structures, sometimes massive, sometimes fragile.