Project co-ordinator: Cédric Parizot
The antiAtlas of 21st Century Borders offers an innovative perspective on the mutations of the State control systems at land, sea, air and virtual borders. This series of events is the outcome of a unique interdisciplinary research program that has involved researchers (social and hard scientists), artists (web artists, tactical geographers, hackers, filmmakers, etc.) and professionals (customs, industry, military) since 2011. Having combined science, art and technology, the antiAtlas goes beyond cartography and challenges barriers between fields of knowledge and practice. It addresses the issues of security, regulation and technology at the border, control of movement of people and goods as well as the way mechanisms of control are bypassed or diverted (e.g. trafficking, hacking)
The antiAtlas of 21st century borders (http://antiatlas.net/) programme presents a new approach to the transformation and experience of borders. It is co-produced by IMéRA – the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Research of Aix-Marseille University the Higher School of Art of Aix-en-Provence, PACTE (Grenoble University), Isabelle Arvers (curator) and La compagnie (Marseille).
The programme will run from 30 September 2013 to 1 March 2014 and will be composed of five initiatives: an inaugural international symposium, two exhibitions, a website and the publication of a book.
1 – International Conference
30 September – 2 October 2013 at the New Conservatory of Aix en Provence. The main aim of this conference is to present the results of the interdisciplinary work that took place in the last two years at IMéRA et at the Higher School of Art of Aix-en-Provence.
In order to reach a large audience this conference will see the participation of researchers, representatives of public institutions (EU customs), private companies (Thales), international organizations (World Customs Organization (WCO) and non-governmental organizations (Cimade, Migreurop).
2 – Art/Science Exhibitions curated by Isabelle Arvers
The AntiAtlas of borders will present two interlinked exhibitions. The first will take place in Aix-en-Provence at the Musée des Tapisseries from 1 October to 3 November 2013. The second will take place in Marseille at La Compagnie creative arts centre from 13 December 2013 to 1 March 2014. The two exhibitions will present works developed in collaboration with social scientists, researchers in the hard sciences and artists. They will offer several levels of reading and forms of participation. Visitors will discover new works, engage with transmedia documentation and participate in experiments.
They will interact directly with robots, drones, video games, walls and systems. The aim is to encourage everyone to reflect on how we are directly and personally affected by the transformations of borders in the 21st century.
3 – Site internet
The final version of the website (www.antiatlas.net/eng/) will be online from September 2013 and will function as an online extension of the exhibitions. Accessible to visitors during the event through monitors in the showrooms, it will allow them to navigate through different types of scientific and artistic resources and the online guide, watch interviews with researchers, explore maps and other kinds of documents.
Most importantly, the website will also provide access to works of net.art and artistic interventions in the form of an online gallery of works. This website and its documentation will perpetuate the progress achieved during the project. It will act as an archive and documentation site for the general public, artists, researchers and institutions.
