Keynote lecture

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I am getting ready for a keynote talk for the “Showroom Z +: collaborations between art and science” conference at the Zurich University for the Arts.

Here is the short abstract of the talk: Brain Storming: Molecules, Butterflies, Animals and Birds

Using the metaphor of the diamond reflecting different sides of the same idea, problem or environment, I will show how long term collaborations with nanoscientist James Gimzewski, neuroscientists Siddharth Ramakrishnan and Mark Cohen and evolutionary biologist Charles Taylor influence our perception and experience of the world around us. The talk will highlight why it is important for scientists to work with artists.

Showroom Z + N ° 6

4. November 2016: Showroom Z + N ° 6:  Collaborations

Flyer (download pdf)

Victoria Vesna (University of California LA) on Fri 11/04/2016 visited the showroom Z + N ° 6 «collaborations».

9:30: Lecture “Brain Storming: Molecules, Butterflies, Animals and Birds» — Lecture Hall 1, Level 3

13:30 : Workshop “Performing the Self Animal / Ingesting Cultural Hybridity: Hox Zodiac Dinner» space 6.K02

 

 

LASERZurich: Complexity – from particle physics to musical interfaces

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I will be attending and giving a short presentation at the LASERZürich — same day as I land! Looks like a great program — Complexity – from particle physics to musical interfaces — 

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Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2016, 18.00,
Hardturmstrasse 169, CH-8005 Zurich.
Dinner is included.

From 18.00 to 20.00: Alexander Penn (Physicist and Researcher, ETH Zurich), Martin Pohl (Experimental Physicist, University of Geneva) and David Rosenboom (Composer-Performer, California Institute of the Arts). The discussion will be moderated by Boris Magrini. An introduction to LASER UCLA will also be presented by Victoria Vesna (Artist and Researcher, UCLA).

Now getting ready for Showroom Z + N ° 6: Collaborations

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Showroom Z + N ° 6: Collaborations

HOX ZODIAC tasting workshop after the keynote lecture: November 4th.

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How is it possible to keep track in a project with 22 participating institutions on four continents? How can what the neurologist in the brain of an actor looks, change the theories of a theater scientist?What recognize a philosopher in one of a chimpanzee painted picture? Transdisciplinary collaboration always result in a concerted effort across artistic and scientific territory and thus the attempt with them to overcome traditional boundaries. Not always a collaboration designed smoothly. Collaborations often mean also confrontations of different methods, work modes or call cultures to bridge calls for a high input of motivation and time.

Arts and Business: Building a Common Ground for Understanding Society.

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Claudia Schnugg from Austria was behind this — thanks to her persistence we finally managed to contribute our paper to this book: “Media Art in the Context of Art, Science and the Market: A Historical Perspective”. The book is so expensive ($120), you will have to get it from a library or already be in business making money. My ultimate challenge in life!!! Now I am stuck — got to start making money with art 🙂

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Octopus Brain Storming @ UCLA Luskin center

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It was exhilarating to have the Octopus Brain Storm EEG working! After many different iterations that were mostly imagining how it could work, the art science team brain waves coming together created magic! Collaborator, neuroscientist Mark Cohen, and the art sci collecyive made it happen. We performed this at the opening of the new UCLA Luskin conference center for the very first time and it never failed. The sound, the EEG, the octopus crowns all worked. Octopus brainStorming was first performed live first by Anna Dumitiru and Alex May who happened to be here from the UK and this was followed by a second performance was by Patricia Olynyk and Samantha from Mark’s lab. The voice recording by jazz artist Kenton Chen was by solicited by Mark C. All came together magically. Read here the science behind this work!

Octopus BrainStorming: Empathy — Patricia Olynyk and Samantha from Art|Sci Center on Vimeo.

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Moderating Ars Electronica Prix Forum: Interactive Art + winners

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Because I was a jury member for the Interactive Arts +, they asked me to moderate the winners. More infocanyouhearme

Winners

Mathias Jud (CH) and Christoph Wachter (CH)
Winners of the Golden Nica of 2016 Prix Ars Electronica in the Interactive Art + category. Project: Can you hear me?

Frank Kolkmann (NL)
Award of Distinction of 2016 Prix Ars Electronica 2016 in the Interactive Art + category. Project: OpenSurgery

Moderation

Victroria Vesna (US)
Professor at Design|Media Arts UCLA and jury member of the 2016 Prix Ars Electronica

Bird Song Diamond Report from EMP

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My collaborations are very much related to what I learned from being in a band ages ago. Most of the time I am working with a group taking on different roles and see myself as the lead singer. I compose the songs and think of ways to create environments that amplify the experience for the audience who I want to completely immerse as a performer. BIRD SONG DIAMOND at the Large Space in Tsukuba was a whole different level — so many people were involved that it felt more like I was a conductor and it was a truly magnificent experience. Looking back, from the point when Chuck approached me to participate in his research on Mapping the Acoustic Network of Birds to five years later working with an amazing team from so many disciplines — I learned so much. Most of all, I understand the importance of LISTENING to our environment — from all different perspectives, with all our senses and extending out to the animal world.

http://www.emp.tsukuba.ac.jp/english/wp/archives/554