Cyber-Body-Systems is an artistic research and production project that investigates the relationship we have with the ever-so-present technology around us, in order to assess its impact on how we relate to and connect with our surroundings (both digital and non-digital) through a trans-disciplinary approach, developing new understandings of what interactivity means in art, its role both in artistic creation as well as exhibiting artworks, and creating a potential reference model for artist to further develop for new media artworks. It is built as a bi-lateral artistic residency, between Bucharest, Romania and Linz, Austria.
Building on the DIGI-Sense project previously developed within Johannes Kepler University in Linz, and led by Claudia Schnugg, the Romanian extension will focus on expanding the previous research framework through a collaborative structure for professionals of various disciplines and career stages to work together, exploring human-technology interactions through performative practices, involving a diverse trans-disciplinary team of visual artists, performers and neuroscientists, in partnership with the National Center for Dance Bucharest and National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale”.
The project opens a space for critical discussion about digital transformation through cultural/artistic engagement with digital technologies, building on the ideas of sensemaking and embodiment/ the role of the body in approaches for interaction with digital technologies and in digital transformation processes which are often perceived and realized through a cognitive approach.
The aim is to create an opportunity for artists, performers, dancers, local art students to get in touch with this discourse on bodily engagement with digital technologies and connect to international community discussing these ideas, in ways that are relevant for art, science, but even in industry, showcasing how artistic research can be based on scientific research, in a direct application in the Romanian cultural field.
“The ongoing discussion about digitalization in art, science and technology shows how important it is to also make sense of the interactions with digital technologies, the information produced by digital technologies and those processes transformed into digital technologies. The critical discussion has to go beyond a rational/cognitive discourse of what it “means” or can be “understood”, but also need to include an approach and a platform for critical discussion that transcends this mind-body duality which is proclaimed in most current discourses (policy making, industry, etc.).” [Dr. Claudia Schnugg]