Fabian Holzinger, Franziska Thurner and Guests
BEAVER LAB
Field lab, sculptural beaver lodge, discourse
STWST Donaulände
Installation: Continuous
Lectures:
Fri 8 Sept, 16:00-17:30
On the Consequence of Understanding - AI and Animal Communication
Sat. 9 Sept, 16:00-17:30
Interference and Control - On the Coexistence of Humans and Animals
Sun. 10 Sept, from 14:00
Beaver Nerd Talk with coffee and cake
An old bus will be transformed into a mobile, hybrid beaver lodge at STWST Danube shore:.
Between field laboratory and sculptural beaver lodge, the interaction of nature and culture will be thematised - using our treatment of wild animals and the example of beavers, which were wiped out in the 19th century and are now returning: While beavers have shaped our landscapes and ecosystems for 15 million years, we humans have lacked any connection to these amazing animals for generations now. Myths and misinformation dominate current debates.
As a field laboratory and artistic setting an urban, utopian niche specified for beavers will be offered:
In addition to scientific or historical facts, special reference will be made to the life of the resident, inner-city beaver family. The role of animals in art will be highlighted. Utopias of coexistence to conviviality with regard to climate crisis and species extinction will be elaborated. In addition to the discussion about animals and their abilities, the predominance of humans as artists and designers will also be questioned. Beavers are thematised in their role as collaborative artists. Aren't the imposing structures of beavers to be considered as building art as well? Are some of their complex song-like vocalisations not music? To what extent are artistic collaborations with animals possible? Or also this: What data from nature and animal populations can artificial intelligences fed with? Can, for example, research on beavers provide data?
The Beaver Lab will be active at the STWST riverfront from 1 Sept.
The public can expect from 8-10 Sept during STWST48: human and non-human actors, a publicly accessible installation setting, discussions with experts, keynotes, beaver walks or screenings.
The programme:
Fri 8 Sept, 16:00-17:30
On the Consequence of Understanding - AI and Animal Communication
Discussion with experts: Patrick Derieg, Renate Holzinger, Kurt Kotrschal
Sat. 9 Sept, 16:00-17:30
Interference and Control - On the Coexistence of Humans and Animals
Discussion with experts: Gudrun Fuss, Gundi Habenicht, Leopold Kanzler, Christoph Wiesmayr
Sun. 10 Sept, from 14:00
Beaver Nerd Talk with coffee and cake
with Leopold Kanzler, Johanna Kuffner, Beaver Lab Team
More info also at: Beaver Lab –> https://beaverlab.at/
and on the Beaver Lab STWST-Site
Abby Lee Tee alias Fabian Holzinger (*1987 Linz) is a musician and sound designer. In addition to band projects, he has released numerous albums on labels such as Shash, Dinzu Artefacts, Czaszka and Accidental since 2009. His preference for field recording & the exploration of the border areas between music & noise as well as culture & nature shows itself in the form of installations, soundwalks or theatre projects. Since 2020, he has dedicated himself to researching beavers & their sounds - the recordings from inside a beaver's lodge were awarded the “Sound Of The Year” award (BBC Radiophonic Workshop) as well as the “Boughton Fieldcraft” award of the “Wildlife Sound Recording Society”. https://abbyleetee.com
Franziska Thurner (*1984 Harrachstal) is a media artist and university lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and the University of Art Linz. In the course of her 10-year teaching career, she has devoted herself to researching and testing emerging technologies with a focus on art, school and mediation work as well as questions of digital ethics and digital justice. Under the name System Jaquelinde (with Hanna Priemetzhofer), she has been creating interdisciplinary and collaborative works with digital and analogue media since 2005. Furthermore, Franziska Thurner explores the error-proneness of algorithms in her digital photo series. https://franziskathurner.com
Fabian Holzinger and Franziska Thurner are collaborating with STWST and others in complementary expertise.
Project Coop with STWST.
DOCUMENTATION
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