30 May 2013

Cyland + Digicult + CSAR = New Media in Venice

Envisioning a variable landscape... In traditional societies, generations would come and go much faster than habitat would change. Catastrophes changed landscapes, be it natural or human in origin - from volcano eruption to migration to asteroid to cultivation. In contemporary times, variety is introduced quickly into landscapes by prosperity or adversity. Over the last century, industrialization, urbanization, revolution, wars, construction and reconstruction – each lead to a generation living under conditions different than previous ones.

The exhibit 'CAPITAL OF NOWHERE' is about life in a changing landscape during the Information Age... Among 13 exhibited artworks personalizing effects of industrialization, urbanization, revolution, wars, construction and reconstruction are Alexandra Dementieva's interactive 'Breathless' translating exhalation digitally into light and words, Vitaly Pushnitsky's hybrid painting-projection 'Waiting' juxtaposing the transpiring of a sunrise over the existence of archaic columns, Elena Gubanova and Ivan Govorkov's sculptural 'Generations' physically uniting decades of doors in solidarity; performances by collective Mylo screened on Soviet era soap. Contributions by CYLAND CoFounders include Anna Frants' new media installation 'Cloud that Smells Blue' which inverts the relationship between oneself to the world and Marina Koldobskaya's ideal city painted on found fragments of old furniture.

This 6 week exhibit at CFZ (Cultural Flow Zone)
will hold a Vernissage: May 31 (7pm)
in conjunction with special Programming: May 31 (11am-2:30pm)
uniting Russia and Italy New Media pioneers at Aula Baratto
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SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

International New Media curators, critics, academics and artist gather to explore Art & Technology in contemporary culture on May 31:


11-11:30 / Ca 'Foscari welcome

11:30-13:00 / DIGICULT presents
A New Media discussion: 'WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE'
Curated and introduced by: Marco Mancuso (Digicult Director)
With: Alessio Erioli, Bertram Niessen, Domenico Quaranta, Valentina Tanni
Exploring the dynamics related to information dissemination, networks and channels promoting professional and artistic collaborations, esteemed panel guests will give their insight into nature and landscapes around us. Dialogue will exlore the technological complexity and variety of styles, expressions and languages ​​that characterize contemporary art while reflecting on the meaning of identity and medialisation which is part of us, men and women of the XXI Century.

13:00-14:30 / CYLAND presents
A New Media discussion: 'CAPITAL ON ISLAND'
Introduced by Anna Frants and Marina Koldobskaya
Followed by video program: 'CHANGING LANDSCAPE'
Curated by Victoria Ilyushkina
Featuring Work by: Alex Antipin, Boris Kazakov, Luda Belova, Maxim Svishev, Manya Alexeeva, Tanya Akhmetgalieva, Michaela Muchina, Maya Popova, Dimitri Lurie, Edward Shelganov, Anton Khlabov, Olga Jurgenson
Films in this program are addressed to a genius loci - the protective spirit of a place, the cultural and historical landscape paradigm. In this series of videos the city is St Petersburg, a place that has changed its name, spirit and character more than once. Hero to darker figure, classical or revolutionary, the faces of the city are multiple and illusory as seen through the eyes of the artists it harbors.

15:00 / Buffet
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ABOUT

CYLAND Media Lab is one of Russia's most active New Media art nonprofit organizations. CYLAND houses the largest archive of Eastern European video art online, organizes exhibits around the world and is the force behind CYBERFEST (Russia's largest annual New Media art event.) CYBERFEST has been held across St Petersburg's top art institutions: The State Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, KURYOKHIN MODERN ART CENTER, Borey Gallery, the Gallery of Experimental Sound and Creative Space Tkachi. The 7th edition of CYBERFEST will take place November, 2013. CYLAND was cofounded by Marina Koldobskaya and Anna Frants.

CSAR The Center for Studies on the Arts of Russia is promoted by the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the Direction of International Programs with the support of the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. It is the first university center in Italy which aims to carry out systematic research and dissemination of the cultural heritage of Russia. Its activities include permanent and temporary workshops, international conferences, film festivals and supporting Performing Arts. Scientific publications, catalogs of art collections and promotion of cultural activities are done primarily to benefit future generations. Since opening in March 2011, the Center has created or collaborated on ten exhibitions.

DIGICULT is a cultural platform that examines the impact of digital technologies and sciences on the arts, design, culture and contemporary society. Digicult was born to give voice and visibility to a new generation of interdisciplinary authors, expand their circuits into an international context, and simultaneously break the existing inflexible publishing rules of the press, by exploiting potentialities of the Web, and its free networks.

THE WYE is 20,000 sq ft of the historic Skalitzer Post, repurposed to play a modern role in Berlin. Opened in 2012, The WYE hosts 100+ local and international innovators curated to create a uniquely diverse, professional hybrid of studios, events, public art, exhibits and workshops. No member contributes more than the actual cost of their space. Without debt and covering overhead by its own means, The WYE is structured to redefine cultural spending by minimizing operational costs and maximizing return of every investment from and into the industries it serves.