Poetry of the Real: Archives Values Futures

Presented by European Center of Art, Design and Media based Research ECAM, Basel
The conference is free of charge.

The various sections of the conference are grouped around the terms “archive – values – futures” which, based on an extended understanding of the concept of knowledge, also allows for a discussion on power, value and future. Knowledge spawns documenting, ordering, diagnosing, systematizing as well as prognosticating practices made use of by both scientists and artists. In addition, the conference considers the possibility of extending these practices to include new disciplines and new learning and teaching regimes, thus opening up the perspective on emerging cultures and visions concerning knowledge of the future. It takes up the challenge and explores how artistic resources can contribute to the emergence of new knowledge systems between past, present and future.  

Programme
Section I, Archives: Patterns of Understanding—how is the past constructed? How do memories, collections and archives create an image of the past, which in its totality remains unfathomable? From which reservoir of methods and practices, and models of time and space is new knowledge drawn?

Section II, Values: Art and Knowledge—in their role as knowledge-regulating bodies, media raise questions as to the power systems underpinning that knowledge. What impact does the transfer of media have on the production of knowledge? The difficulty of media representation and the reliance on elaborate technical procedures in data collection.

Section III, Values: Media and Knowledge—examples from institutional practice: questions regarding the order, distribution and representation of knowledge by means of the media. Which regulatory bodies step into action through media, not least when handling the materiality of knowledge. What significance is given to the knowledge-generating effect every intervention has on material and media culture?

Section IV, Futures: The Emerging Real—this section raises questions as to the expansion of acknowledged aesthetic and scientific practices in view of the current reordering of knowledge, with respect to the future of art, design and the media.

Participants
Carla Delfos, Taco Dibbits, Lars Ebert, Prof. Francesco Erspamer PhD, Jürgen Enge, Jana Eske, Valie Export, Prof. Dr. Melanie Franke, Prof. Wendy Hui Kyong Chun PhD, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Kannonier, Dr. Mario Klinger, Prof. Kirsten Langkilde, Dr. Linda Ludwig, Dr. Tabea Lurk, Prof. Dr. Thomas Macho, Prof. Dr. Claudia Mareis, Prof. Chus Martinez, Prof. Dr. Nicolaj van der Meulen, Dr. Christine Schranz, Dr. Shintaro Miyazaki, Dr. Susanne Neubauer, Prof. Michael Renner, Prof. Pierluigi Sacco PhD, Prof. Jeffrey Schnapp PhD, Christian Schneegass, Prof. Chris Wainwright, Prof. Heinz Wagner, Prof. Dr. Jörg Wiesel

About European Center of Art, Design and Media based Research ECAM
The aim is to enhance the significance of new artistic and creative practices and their interleaving with media, to bring them to the fore in the context of global knowledge society and to brand them as relevant and defining indicators and actors of social change and development. In doing so the empowerment of artists and designers plays a pivotal role. For this purpose we are establishing in Basel the internationally orientated European Centre of Art, Design and Media Based Research (ECAM). The Research Centre is designed to enhance the quality of the cultural debate, to strengthen research in art, design and media at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel, and to promote and interlink highly qualified cultural experts. It serves as a platform that focuses on current cultural discourses and examines the role of artistic, creative and media practices in wider society. Integrated in the Research Centre is a graduate school.
 

Please find the conference programme and further information about ECAM by following ecam.ch.