Curators: John Bardakos (GR), Bill Zhou (CN), Jessie Dong (CN)
At the heart of every cybernetic structure lies a black box, which many see as the main protagonist in every narrative around feedback loops, outputs, and communication between living organisms and machines. Therefore, for the theme Out of the Box, we choose to emphasize decentralized exploration of the “field” of interactions that surround this central black box core.
This field acts as an environment inhabited by processes and sub-processes that manifest as information flows, behavioral acts, and all manner of dialectic correlations. Influenced by Alfred North Whitehead’s processual philosophy in relation to core concepts from Roy Ascott’s Technoetic arts paradigm, we form an art network that contains complex unfolding interactions of mental, digital, organic and non-organic “atoms” that generate the technoetic arts experience.
Under the term “pharmakon,” our exhibition suggests that the essence of what exists “outside” the cybernetic black box can be considered a remedy for the midlife crisis of the digital revolution. By deploying technoetic processes — a combination of physical, digital and moist media elements — these processes and sub-processes of remediation offer opportunities to recuperate and renew.
Within this context of healing, we are very proud to present the art installation Technoetic Pharmakon as a field of dialectic entities: a series of Technoetic creations from the students of the Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio, DeTao Masters Academy, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA).
The Technoetic Arts Major is an advanced art program based on the research-creation paradigm. We expose students to the important emerging theories and practices across the fields of art, science, and technology, using artistic practice as the research medium. Technoetics is a convergent field of theory and practice that seeks to explore the broad spectrum of consciousness and connectivity; a specific approach that uses digital, telematic, chemical or spiritual means, and embraces both the interactive and psychoactive.
Project Credits:
- Professor Roy Ascott (Detao Master of Technoetic Arts)
- Dr. Michelle Lewis King (Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts, Assistant Professor, Artst)
- Eleanor Zhang (P.A. Professor Roy Ascott, Studio Assistant Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio)
Biographies:
Ioannis (John) Bardakos (GR) is an artist, an academic, and a researcher. He was born in Athens, Greece, studied mathematics and arts in Greece, Spain and Paris. John Bardakos has been active within the domain of new media for more than 20 years as an artist, a director and a producer. He is currently the program director and a Senior Lecturer in the BA of Technoetic Arts provided by DeTao and the Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio and the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. His research and art practices explore the space between art, mathematics, and philosophy.
Xiaxoxu (Jessie) Dong (CN) is an artist and interactive graphic designer. She was born in China, studied product design, communication design and arts in China and the UK. She is currently a lecturer in the BA of Technoetic Arts program provided by DeTao and the Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. Her research and art practice stretches across the domains of art, design, and data visualization. She works with a research-driven approach while actively involved in planning, developing and teaching classes.
BiCheng (Bill) Zhou (CN) is a graduate student in the Technoetic arts major provided by the Roy Ascott Studio and the Detao Masters Academy at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. Bill’s art practice explores the poetics of interactivity between systems, biosignal processing and creative coding. As a graduate student, Bill is currently working on biological art installations exploring insects and light.
