ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS - HELSINKI
24 - 25 MARCH 2010

 

Keynotes by Roy Ascott and Jill Scott

The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by an overwhelming awareness of environmental issues. Facing the threat of global warming, the findings of scientific research have become a subject of intensive political debate. The ethical questions traditionally discussed in the green-wing marginals have become mainstream, as science has become a coffee-table topic.

The field of art that interacts with the practices of science and its technologies is commonly referred to as ART&SCIENCE. During the past decades, this hybrid field has become more or less established, with landmark works, major institutions and written histories. However, with the new wave of environmentalism, a further wave of artists working withmethods and questions related to scientific research has also emerged.

The conference seeks to contextualize the practices of ART&SCIENCE both in the contemporary political atmosphere and the history of contemporary art.

The first day of the two-day conference focuses on the practices in transformation as a result of research-orientation and cross-disciplinarity, characteristic to the field of ART&SCIENCE.

The second day of the conference looks at the technologies of encounter
between human and non-human worlds. The aim is to address the ethical discourse taking place in art practices which look at the interaction between humans and non-humans.

Speakers include:

Pau Alsina (researcher, ESP)
Roy Ascott (artist, theorist, UK)
Laura Beloff (artist, researcher, FI)
Erich Berger (artist, coordinator ArsBioarctica, AUT/FI)
Andy Gracie (artist, UK/ESP)
Terike Haapoja (artist, FI)
Eija Juurola (forest researcher, FI)
Jan Kaila (artist, professor, FI)
Tuija Kokkonen (theatre director, FI)
Minna Langstrom (artist, lecturer, FI
Anu Osva (artist, FI)
Ingeborg Reichle (art historian, DE)
Antti Sajantila (professor, medical doctor, FI)
Jill Scott (artist, researcher, AUS/CH)
Helena Sederholm (professor, FI)
Raitis Smits (artist, curator, LV)
Ulla Taipale (curator, FI/ESP)
Manu Tamminen (microbiologist, FI)
Adam Zaretsky (artist, US)

http://www.kuva.fi/