2019 is the last year of the international EUCIDA* project, concluded by a symposium in Luznava manor, Latvia, in which a series of lectures, masterclasses, exhibitions will take place for two days. Symposium is curated by media artist and leader of RIXC centre for new media culture in Riga – prof. Rasa Smite.
“An ecology of the virtual is .. just as pressing as ecologies of the visible world” – Felix Guattari
Ecological awareness forms the core of the EUCIDA symposium, which aims to explore the artistic strategies facing the urgent realities of today in our society – such as climate change, environmental issues, ubiquitous and immersive virtual technologies. By focusing on ecologies, we are using environment as the point of departure to make a shift “back to reality” with the two fold intent: First, as climate change is a major issue which can only be solved in the physical world; and second, as nature in Latvia, where this Eucida symposium will take place, has always had a particularly strong meaning and link for the local communities.
Now more than ever, it is time to make a reality turn, and to treat the virtual more seriously.
Outstanding keynote speakers will discuss alternate realities and ecologies of the virtual, while featured Eucida network artists will give masterclasses that use digital technologies for communicating with the plants, reveal myths behind electricity and network infrastructure, grow algae and bacteria for producing green energy, experiment with 3D printing to transform the digital into the tangible, and experiment with 360-video transforming the real environment into the mixed reality experience, establishing a stronger link between the virtual and the real.
14.30 – 14.45 Welcome words by organizers
14.45 – 16.00 Opening Keynote: VIRTUAL ECOLOGIES
Eric KLUITENBERG. Beyond Binary: Rethinking ecological art practice
Rasa SMITE. Virtualities and Realities: New experiences, art and ecologies in immersive environments (Book presentation)
16.15 – 17.30 Panel 1 – Artist Talks and Workshop Introductions: NATURE AND COMMUNICATION
Gaspard and Sandra BÉBIÉ-VALÉRIAN. Slime mold as a counter-agent
Paula VITOLA. Light works
Maija DEMITERE. 978 tomatoes
17.30 – 19.30 Workshops
Workshop 1: Gaspard and Sandra BÉBIÉ-VALÉRIAN. Rituals in Unknown Spaces
Workshop 2: Paula VITOLA. Lights, Shadows, Waves
19.30 Opening of the Exhibition Through the Black Mirror
20.00 Opening of student exhibition Digital Experiments in Design II
9:00 Registration
10.00 – 11.30 Panel 2: Thematic Keynotes. PARTICIPATION, ART AND INSTITUTIONS IN VIRTUAL ERA
Raivo KELOMEES. Creating paleolithic forms through digital technology: When imagination becomes tangible reality
Vytautas MICHELKEVICIUS. What is the greenest of them all? The role of time and place in the (artistic) research
Ilva SKULTE. In search of reality: Media history and conceptualization of the real
Varvara GULJAJEVA. From interaction to post-participation: the disappearing role of the active participant. Introducing research framework of post-participation
12.15 – 14.00 Keynotes of Day 2: NEW EXPERIENCES IN VIRTUAL ART
Zilvinas LILAS. Phenomenology of Virtual
Nora O MURCHÚ. Ecologies of Care
15.00 – 16.00 Panel 3: Artist Talks – DIGITAL ARTISTS AND EDUCATION / BIOLOGY AND COMPUTING AESTHETICS
Paul O'NEILL. C-Node: Exploring Dublin’s corporate networked ecosystems.
Sarah LUNDY. Koki [A Corporeal Correlation]
Florent DI BARTOLO. The definition of behaviours and the possibility of new ways of seeing
Gundega STRAUTMANE. Visual Poetry
16.00 – 18.00 Parallel Workshops
Final Discussion with conference moderators, organisers and keynote speakers (open for public)
Workshop 3: Maija DEMITERE. Creating a self-sustainable micro-system for growing food (15 participants)
Workshop 4: Nora O MURCHÚ with Adam GIBNEY. Reflections on EUCIDA – mobility and collaboration (for EUCIDA artists only)
18.00 – 19.00 Closing Discussion, with drinks and dinner
19.00 Bus to Riga
Train: FROM RIGA
09:50 Rīga - 13:23 Rēzekne 2
17:00 Rīga - 20:29 Rēzekne 2
17:30 Riga -20:15 Rezekne fFrom Riga –Rezekne – Moscow)
Car: from Riga E22 until Rezekne, then A13 and left turn to Luznava