LASER Talks Brussels: The Artwork As A Living System with Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau and Dr. Elio Tuci. Moderated by Alexandra Dementieva & Dr. Florian Zanatta
When: Saturday 15 April 2023 at 7pm CET. Find your timezone here
Doors open at 6:00 pm for a guided tour of the retrospective exhibition The Artwork as a Living System.
Where: iMAL, Center for digital cultures and technology
Quai Des Charbonnages 30-34, Koolmijnenkaai 30-34, Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 410 30 93
Admission free
The event will be live-streamed here.
In the framework of the opening of THE ARTWORK AS A LIVING SYSTEM, a retrospective of the work of Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau, we invite you to a LASER Talk with the artists, joined by Dr. Elio Tuci.
THE ARTWORK AS A LIVING SYSTEM connects a traditional subject – art and nature – with the most innovative artistic techniques employed in virtual, sentient, interactive projects. The presented works offer an intimate and tangible approach to concepts such as quantum physics, the theory of complex systems, genetics, molecular nanoscience or artificial life. This exceptional retrospective is the result of a co-production between ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Germany), OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH, Linz (Austria) and iMAL Brussels (Belgium). The exhibition is curated by Karin Ohlenschläger.
LASER Talk participants will discuss topics related to the intersection between biology, technology & art, and the use of biological systems and processes that serve as a metaphor for the complex relationships between humans, nature, and the digital world.
Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau are internationally acclaimed pioneers of interactive art. Since the early 90s, their immersive installations encourage us to explore and interact with natural environments and to participate in their simultaneous transformation in the digital space. Plants, water, and lights become sensitive interfaces through which the public can create and connect with virtual environments.
Dr. Elio Tuci is a researcher in the field of artificial life, with a focus on using robotic and computational models to understand the behavior of biological systems. He has collaborated with artists on projects that explore the intersection of art, science, and technology.
Dr. Florian Zanatta is conducting research projects on bryophytes biogeography and urban ecology. During his PhD thesis (2013-2018) at the University of Liège he developed a novel framework for dynamic ecological niche models, integrating species-specific and spatially explicit migration simulations, in order to explore bryophytes’ potential migration capacity through wind dispersal, in the context of climate changes. Later he worked at Meise Botanic Garden (2020-2022). He co-founded a citizen urban ecology lab (non-profit) in Liège called “lacYme” (2021), which develops science communication and citizen-science-based research projects and activities (e.g. BioBlitzes, urban biodiversity walks…). During these collaborative events, lacYme aims at gathering scientists from different fields, naturalists, artists, and citizens together around places to explore, experiment and discuss biodiversity and ecological questions, with the complementarity of these approaches.
The discussion is organized by
LEONARDO/ISAST
Leonardo fosters transformation at the nexus of art, science and technology, because complex problems require creative solutions. We serve to empower an inclusive global network, a borderless community where all belong in pursuit of a more vibrant, just and regenerative world. A fearless pioneer since 1968, Leonardo serves as THE community forging a transdisciplinary network to convene, research, collaborate and disseminate best practices at the nexus of arts, science and technology worldwide.
LASER TALKS
Leonardo/ISAST LASER Talks are a program of international gatherings that bring artists, scientists, humanists and technologists together for informal presentations, performances and conversations with the wider public. The mission of LASER is to encourage contribution to the cultural environment of a region by fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and opportunities for community building. The LASER Talks Brussels are moderated and curated by Alexandra Dementieva and Edith Doove.
ADEM ADEM ASBL/VZW
Adem asbl/vzw is Nonprofit organisation based in Brussels, Belgium. It develops and produces artistic creations and participates in the realization and artistic production of projects, covering all aspects of artistic creations, all disciplines and in particular multimedia, science, communication, and journalism, it organizes events-talks, performances, and exhibitions.
CYLAND
Founded in 2007, CYLAND is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the intersection of Art :: Tech through an annual international festival, visual exhibitions, sound art, video art, and educational programming. CYLAND brings together artists, curators, technologists, educators, and thinkers to create innovative projects around the world.