Digital art in forests and caves, art and science in Singapore, simulations as art, a passionate curator, and Aboriginally determined research and practice in Canada.
Shining a spotlight on people, collectives, and organizations doing wonderful things:
Abandon Normal Devices
Abandon Normal Devices describes itself as “a nomadic commissioner and born-digital producer unafraid to enter new territories and broker new partnerships.” The company produces the incredible AND Festival, which moves around the UK, mapping different terrains and modes of commissioning and exhibiting work in forests, caves, and in the streets. The festival takes place every two years and if you ever get the chance to go, leap at it! I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.
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Daan Roosegaarde (2017)Honor Harger
Honor Harger is director of the ArtScience Museum in Singapore. Whether exploring big data, rainforests, or artificial intelligence, the ArtScience Museum’s projects are inspired by Leonardo’s motto: “Everything is connected.” Originally from New Zealand, Harger was director of Lighthouse in Brighton before moving to Singapore to take up her role at the ArtScience Museum. She has also been a guest curator of Transmediale, an international festival of art and digital culture in Berlin. From 2004–2008, she was the director of the AV Festival, the UK’s largest biennial of media art, film, and music. Her curation and practice is interdisciplinary and I recommend following her on Twitter if you are interested in the connections between art, science, and technology.
Ian Cheng
Ian Cheng creates computer-generated simulations like those used in predictive technologies for complex scenarios such as climate change or elections. His Emissaries trilogy works like a never-ending video game in real time: “It was a process that was on-going as life is on-going.”
We need meaning to ground ourselves in a sense of purpose, otherwise we’re just filled with anxiety. On the flip side, we need meaninglessness to interject bald reality into our life scripts, in order to force ourselves to refresh them. So, in the simulations, I’m trying to find a way in which these two forces constantly sculpt each other in a very formal way.
Gabrielle Jenks
Gabrielle Jenks describes herself as a hunter, gatherer, producer, and curator. She was previously director of AND Festival and is currently digital director of the Manchester International Festival in the UK. At AND, she was a passionate advocate for supporting emerging talent, curating and producing award-winning projects from artists such as Marshmallow Laser Feast, Gillian Wearing, Eva and Franco Mattes, The Yes Men, Wafaa Bilal, and Oneohtrix Point Never (to name but a few).
Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace
Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (AbTeC) is an Aboriginally determined research-creation network with the goal of ensuring Indigenous presence in online environments. Founded by Skawennati and Jason Edward Lewis, AbTeC’s work includes artwork, writing, lectures, workshops, residencies, and exhibitions.
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