CyberLab 2010

CyberLab 2010

  The goal of the CyberLab is a playful scientific-artistic investigation of the question “What is man?” in the man-machine-computer field of tension. In the beginning was God, fire, man – and then betrayal. Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Since then, man has been asking himself who he is and what determines his life. For more than 2000 years, philosophy has been dealing with the principal questions concerning existence. At the end of the 19th century, Nietzsche announced the death of God. The industrial revolution was sweeping all before it and was followed by the computer or information age. In 2009, nature seems controllable. Men themselves have become gods. Supported by computers, they create technical extensions of their mind and body: the computer as a novel, third cerebral hemisphere. The internet and its virtual worlds become a geographical extension of the earth and the universe. Like a god, man materializes and virtualizes his fantasies and his desire to create. He works on a new species, which comes true in the shape of avatars (virtual beings) and robots. The question is how these new worlds and creatures influence our existence. Where is this path leading man and culture? How does the interaction between men, machines, real and virtual spaces work? Is man already controlled by computers? The symposium Artists and researchers meet in lectures, a reading and a lecture presentation in order to explore relationship concepts between man and computer. Researchers at the symposium: Alexander Firyn (dramatics and media studies, Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering, Berlin), Hans Christian von Herrmann (Cultural Theory of Digital Media, University of Jena), Erich Hörl (philosophy of media and technology, Ruhr-University Bochum), Irina Kaldrack (dramatics and mathematics, University of Paderborn), Christian Kassung (cultural techniques and knowledge history, Humboldt University Berlin), Claus Pias (epistemology and philosophy of digital media, University of Vienna), Martina Leeker (theatre and media, University of Bayreuth) Artistic presentations within the symposium: Louis Philippe Demers (media artist, robotics), Jo Fabian (choreographer, director, video artist in “Second Life”), Stefan Pinczolits (co-founder of Generation Fun), Georg Hobmeier (dancer, performer), Victor Morales (video-game modifier), Klaus Obermaier (media artist, director, composer), Marc Downie (computer artist, research in the field of artificial intelligence), Jeremy Bernstein (developer of Max/MSP/Jitter and media artist). Reading within the symposium: Ulf Heuner (author, editor, Parodos publishing house) Actant networks. Transitions between artificial art and human art Sat 6 March 9 h to Sun 7 March 18 h, Box Lecture Presentations Sun 7 March 16:30 h, Box Reading: Ulf Heuner Sun 7 March 16:30 h, Box The Lab Four artists will spend a week exploring the relations between man and computer – between reality and virtuality. Each starts from his own area of expertise or has his specific access. Jo Fabian (Berlin) tests the possibilities of theatricality in an artificial world through his activities at the online platform “Second Life”. Louis Philippe Demers (Singapore) designs and constructs robots that exist in a self-controlled world of machines. Georg Hobmeier (Austria) links with machines through electrical impulses so that they take control over him. Victor Morales (New York) designs and controls avatars (virtual creatures). He uses mutations and bugs in programming systems, which according to him prove the independent life of machines. The lab situation will be demonstrated in presentations open to the interested audience. Participants: Louis Philippe Demers (media artist, robotics), Jo Fabian (choreographer, director, video artist in “Second Life”), Georg Hobmeier (dancer, performer), Victor Morales (video-game modifier) The LAN party From Friday to Sunday, a two-day LAN party will take over the Festspielhaus stage. 250 people aged 15 to 35 will gather there to play computer games together. For 48 hours the participants will barely eat or drink. The physical body takes a back seat while the virtual character directs the players’ needs. Virtuality dominates reality, the computer controls man. With this public LAN party and its supporting programme the Festspielhaus St Pölten would like to make the culture of computer games accessible and visible. Participants: Generation Fun & Electronic Sports League (ESL) LAN party Fri. March 12 to Sun. March 14, 16.00, Great Hall Electronic-Sports-Show 1 Fri. March 12, 18.00, Great Hall Panel discussion