<nettime-ann> Test_Lab: Intimate Interfaces, December 10 - 2009

[V2_ <press@v2.nl>]

.
Test_Lab: Intimate Interfaces
http://www.v2.nl/events/test_lab-intimate-interfaces

Thursday December 10, 2009 | 20:00h | Entrance: free
V2_, Eendrachtsstraat 10, Rotterdam | www.v2.nl

Please arrive on time as space is limited. Doors open at 19:30h. It is
not possible to make a reservation for this event.

Create electronic circuitry on bare skin, enter a digital network by
wearing a veil, see through clothing without X-Ray vision: test and
debate some truly new forms of techno-intimacy!

Featuring: Studio Roosegaarde and Maartje Dijkstra (NL) | Karen Lancel
and Hermen Maat (NL) | Bare Conductive: Isabel Lizardi and Matt Johnson
(UK) | Lucy McRae (NL) | Opening: Franco 'Bifo' Berardi (IT)



Introduction:

An intimate relationship consists of a private world shared by an
individual and his/her significant other(s). According to sociologist
David Cheal, this private world is defined by its need to be
continuously maintained.
From flowers and letters to emails and text messages, throughout
history people have used a wide range of artefacts and interfaces to
remind significant others of their significance. The design of those
artefacts and interfaces, however, has focused almost exclusively on the
mediation of symbolic and verbal acts of intimacy – and yet physical
intimacy and presence are among our strongest expressions of
significance. Given the abundance of communication and tangible
interface technologies currently available, it is striking that none of
these have fully succeeded in the mediation of physical intimate acts.

Artists and designers have steadily addressed this issue in the recent
past by redesigning network and communication technologies for the
mediation of physical intimate acts. However, these have at best
succeeded in replacing existing forms of physical intimacy with poorly
fulfilling technological simulations and substitutes, such as cybersex
and telepresence. Ultimately, this only strengthened the general view
that true mediated physical intimacy is science fiction. Due to a shift
in focus from trying to model existing forms of physical intimacy to
designing truly new physical intimate acts, more recent artistic
explorations – especially in the realm of tangible interfaces – have
proven to be much more promising. In these explorations, intimacy
evolves out of complex systems, where new technologies, innovative
materials, and the human body coalesce to initiate and inspire hitherto
unimaginable types of interpersonal engagement.

This edition of Test_Lab will present the outcome of these artistic
ventures into technology-mediated bodily intimacy. In demonstrating
their works, artists and designers will show and test their radical
reconsiderations of the ways in which body, material, and technology
together shape our intimate lives. Exemplified in demonstrations of the
innovative Bare Skin Safe Conductive Ink, Karen Lancel and Hermen Maat’s
Tele_Trust Data Veil, and a preview of Studio Roosegaarde's project
Intimacy, the topic will be further elaborated upon by 'body architect'
and artist Lucy McRae, and philosopher and media theorist Franco
Berardi. As it is custom to Test_Lab, the audience will be invited to
try out the presented works. Can these explorations lead to truly
intimate interfaces?

This event will be streamed live. See http://www.v2.nl/

For more information, please contact
Michel van Dartel:
E michel@v2.nl | T +31 (0)10 206 72 72





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