RIXC Fields Residency - is the main symposium venue.

Apply for the SOTAN More-than-Human Ecologies symposium, organized by RIXC in Latvia at the RIXC Fields Residency and Irbene Radiotelescope, June 10-13, 2022! Deadline: May 12, 2022!

“We like to imagine ourselves as rational beings who think and speak, yet to live means first and foremost to look, taste, feel, and smell the world around us.” (Coccia)

Imagine that you are connected to everything you hear, feel, or smell right now… Or just think that 90 percent of cells that constitute our body are non-human… And how much we are aware of the so-called "critical zone" (Latour), a tiny layer around the planet, in which we live, yet where all life has been formed... What kind of processes, relations, and aesthetics can tackle a more-than-human approach? Are there any mediums, technologies, or practices that better can help us to become more 'sensitive' to others and our environments? 

Seeking answers to the questions above, the SOTAN symposium “More-than-Human Ecologies'' will be organized by RIXC with two fold intent: First, is to show and discuss practices and methodologies by artists and designers working with nature, renewable energy, scientific data and sensing technologies. And second, is to establish an interdisciplinary platform for a dialogue and broader discussion on sustainable future visions of the European Green Deal and New European Bauhaus and its relation to the North. 

We ask: How do these political guidelines relate to the art and cultural practices already implemented in North Europe (such as the innovative project “pond battery”)? What is the possible future scenarios of New Bauhaus with regards to the Baltic countries, which have their own specific “heritage” of post-soviet aesthetics such as, for instance, Irbene Radiotelescope site, which is the Symposium venue of the second day... 

As a result of the symposium workshops and discussions, a blueprint for conceptually new  “more-than-human” perspective will be developed, based on revising the notions of “green futures” and “beautiful europe”, which today are affected not only by climate change, but also by ongoing war…

Irbene Radiotelescope is the venue for the 2nd day of the symposium - with the discussions on the “ecologies of the post-soviet military industries” at the Irbene Radio Telescope will feature “Lunch Talks with scientists” it will refer to the Acoustic Space symposium organized by RIXC 20 years ago in 2001 and exploring what has changed in society, in art and science after 20 years and what is the potential of this interdisciplinary cooperation in the rest of the 21st century.

Network Call Announced! Deadline May 12, 2022

Please apply by sending a short motivation letter via e-mail expressing your interest to participate to rixc@rixc.org, introducing your background, as well as a proposal for your contribution to the evening program (e.g. presentation at “SOTAN Show and Tell sessions”). The link to the portfolio or website can also be provided (recommended).

On-site participants – 15 in total, of which 5 participants from Nordic & Baltic countries will be invited and/or selected by open call applications, 5 participants from Latvia & Baltic will be selected, and 5 more will be RIXC core team and workshop conductors.

Online participants will be provided with the workshop materials upon request.

All the selected participants will be provided with free accommodation, covering the travel and food/subsistence costs, during the time period of the symposium, June 10-13.

Deadline for applications: May 12, 2022. All the participants will be notified about the results in 3 days, until May 15, 2022.

Rasa Smite, Raitis Smits. Biotricity - Bacteria Time. (Pond Battery). (2019-ongoing). Futurium Museum, Berlin.
Renewable Lab Symposium, RIXC Fields Residency, 2012. https://vimeo.com/54599467

Preliminary program

Friday, June 10, 2022 - a Day of Arrival
Arriving and traveling to Salinas farm (Talsi) + Welcome Dinner

Saturday, June 11, 2022 – Day 1 “renewable energy”
Venue: RIXC Fields Residency, Salinas farm (Talsi), Latvia

“pond battery” workshop (conducted by Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits)
“North and European Green Deal” discussion with keynote speakers (online)
“SOTAN network Show and Tell” session with the dinner (open participatory session)

Sunday, June 12, 2022 – Day 2 “ecologies of post-soviet military industries”
Venue: Irbene Radio Telescope (Ventspils)

Breakfast and trip to Irbene Radiotelescope
Lunch with the scientists + introducing RIXC projects at the Radiotelescope
“New Bauhaus future in NorthEastern Europe” discussion with keynote speakers (online)

“SOTAN network Show and Tell” session with the dinner (open participatory session)

Monday, June 13, 2022  – a Day of Departure
Breakfast and trip back to Riga

Irbene Radiotelescope RT-32. Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center, Latvia. Photo: Rasa Smite
RT-32.Acoustic Space Lab. DVD by RIXC, 2002.
(Part1-history) https://vimeo.com/29362283
(Part2-artistic experiments) https://vimeo.com/29364126

Organizer:

The Symposium is organized by RIXC Center for New Media Culture, Riga, Latvia, which is a part of SOTAN network.

http://rixc.org
https://bioartsociety.fi/projects/state-of-the-art-network

Contact
rasa@rixc.org Rasa Smite, curator and project coordinator
agnese@rixc.org Agnese Baranova, producer
liva.silina99@gmail.com Liva Silina, PR and information coordinator

Support and Partners

State of the Art Network is a Nordic-Baltic transdisciplinary network of artists, practitioners, researchers, and organizations who have come together to discuss the role, responsibility, and potential of art and culture in the Anthropocene.

State of the Art Network is coordinated by the Bioart Society and supported by Nordic Culture Point, Nordic Culture Fund, and A. P. Møller Foundation. 

The symposium and residency is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia.

The symposium partner: Engineering Research Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS)