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FutureSession: Atmospheric Memory
FutureSession: Atmospheric Memory.
The reason I applied for the FutureSession bursary was to be intellectually stimulated and hear about the latest tech. savvy artworks commissioned by FutureEverything, Manchester UK. The main theme of this particular FutureSession was based on ‘Atmospheric Memory‘ an installation by the Mexican artist Rafael Lorenza-Hemmer commissioned by the Manchester International Festival, Science and Industry Museum, FutureEverything, ELEKTRA / Arsenal Contemporary Art, Montreal and Carolina Performing Arts – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Produced for the Manchester International Festival, curated with FutureEverything and the Science and Industry Museum.
The session began with a presentation by the artist Rafael Lorenza-Hemmer, were he described the evolution of his installation Atmospheric Memory. The installation is theoretically underpinned by Charles Babbage’s (1791-1871) fascination of harnessing air as a medium of communication i.e. the ability to recall voices or memories long after the end of their physical presence. As with many of Rafael’s installations, the audience plays a pivotal role to use their thoughts and memories in order to question the human condition. The installation acts as a platform to allow the audience to express their opinions in a collective environment; a production of space within a social morphological construct.
The conference provided a great opportunity to interactive and discuss with fellow participants in how technological innovations are reshaping our world. It was refreshing and inspiring to discuss a paradigm that stems from the 90’s net art and cyber cultures to the more recent emergence of smart cities, VR and AI technologies.
The FutureSession allowed artists to share, discuss and devise solutions in order to raise awareness to the concerns of environmental change. Spending the day in conversation with the participants and audience was a refreshing experience. Fantastic to meet people willing to resist propaganda and avoid the seduction of rhetorical politics by actively questioning the paradox of communication.
Well done to the team at FutureEverything for hosting the event.
Hope to see you all again sometime soon.
Regards..
Dr. Mark Pilkington
Thought Universe Electronic Music Studio
