Under the Viral Shadow. Networks in the Age of Technoscience and Infection - Ausstellung Berlin

Ausstellung Kunstverein Art Laboratory Berlin

The word virus has several meanings. i. In life and health sciences, an entity at the boundary of life that must “infect” cells in order to reproduce; a major cause of disease in humans, but also a cure (through phage therapy). ii. Since the 1980s, computer programs designed to “infect” and often replicate in other programs and computers have also been called viruses. Originally a biomorphic metaphor, computer viruses are part of the history of cybernetics. iii. Finally, in a social context – and especially on social media – we use “going viral” when an idea (meme) or product spreads exponentially.

Our digital technologies were developed after World War II, in part through interdisciplinary collaborations such as the Macy Conferences (1946-53), where cybernetics specifically selected biological models to develop computers and proposals for “artificial intelligence.” More recently, artists working with “hacker ethos and skills” critically examine new developments in computer science, biotechnology, and life sciences, creating ethical and aesthetic territory for discussions relevant to our world in the 21st century.

Under the Viral Shadow explores various networks – biological, cybernetic, and social – in the context of the pandemic. It includes a symposium and workshops as well as a group exhibition Under the Viral Shadow features works by six internationally renowned artists: Anna Dumitriu, Alex May, Benjamin Bacon, Gene Kogan, Sarah Grant, and Vivian Xu. Archaeabot (May/ Dumitriu) features an underwater robotic installation investigating ‘life’ in a post-climate change future, based on recent research on archaea, ancient microorganisms. Engineered Antibody (Dumitriu) is a custom beaded necklace based on an antibody purified from the blood of an HIV-positive patient, It also the actual 21 amino acids found in the antibody. PROBE II: Subaudition (Bacon) is a binary set of extra-planetary machines that apply machine learning methods to investigate speech to text recognition decoding spoken language, turning it into kinetic energy, light, color, patterns and reflection. Abraham (Kogan) is an ‘autonomous artificial artist’ based on decentralized AI. In interaction with the public, the work reflects on promising techniques from machine learning, cryptoeconomics, and computer art. Physarum Topologies (Grant) makes use of living slime mould (Physarum polycephalum) to demonstrate bio-computing for different topologies of computer networks. Finally wearables such as Electric Skin and Sonic Skin (Xu) explore the concept of human-machine co-evolution, offering a possible future human perception that may re-invent our relationship to the environment.
(photo: Anna Dumitriu/ Alex May: ArchaeaBot: A Post Climate Change, Post Singularity Life-form, 2018-19, photo: Vanessa Graf/ Ars Electronica)