ART AND SCIENCE PROJECT
The project explores the aesthetic, ethical, and ontological challenges of postdigital art.
Digital coding has emerged from contemporary art and expanded into almost all areas of human activity. It is no surprise, therefore, that many artists are focused on artificial intelligence programs, computer games, virtual and augmented reality, and similar technologies. In contrast, postdigital art deals with the changing relationships with digital technologies and artistic forms, with a greater emphasis on humanity rather than digitality. Within contemporary aesthetics, which emphasizes the active search for aesthetic experiences, there is an increasing emphasis on the strong connection between artistic production and contemporary social, economic, and political issues (such as ecology, health crises, and armed conflicts). Through their creative work, artists aim to raise awareness among the public and contribute to finding solutions.
In an era of widespread fake news and disinformation, the absence of objective criteria, and the inundation of online content whose truthfulness cannot be verified, there is a need to explore the links between art, aesthetics, ethics, and politics. The recent explosive development of artificial intelligence inevitably emerges as an acute and essential question, and the issue of alignment becomes one of the primary ontological questions, extending beyond the domain of postdigital art.
Given this theoretical background and artistic production, we do not expect participants to merely use contemporary AI media and applications as a means to achieve "contemporary" status or follow what is currently "in." Instead, we primarily seek their critical examination of the phenomenon, its direction, and ultimate purpose.
Selected participants are expected to actively engage in project-related activities, primarily of a scientific nature (lectures, workshops, and roundtable discussions). Participation in these activities should enhance their understanding of the post-digital phenomenon and encourage scientific and artistic approaches to its reevaluation, resulting in individual creative output. Works can be realized in any existing medium, in digital or physical space, or in the form of an artistic concept, manifesto, essay, scientific research, or other formats. All works that meet the criteria will be publicly presented, exhibited in an appropriate space, and published in the project's publication. Participants will have access to mentoring from the project team members, consisting of project leader Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Brajnović, Assoc. Prof. Ingeborg Fülepp, and Mag. Art Dijana Protić (from the Academy of Applied Arts, University of Rijeka), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. sc. Iris Vidmar Jovanović (from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka).
The project is a collaboration between the Center for Innovative Media (APURI) and the Department of Aesthetics (FFRI), with financial support from the University of Rijeka (grant number umjpro-22-5).
Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Brajnović - www.brajnovic.com Assoc. Prof. Dr. sc. Iris Vidmar Jovanović - https://portal.uniri.hr/portfelj/795 Assoc. Prof. Ingeborg Fülepp - https://abeceded21.sg-host.com/autori/ingeborg-fulepp/ Mag. Art Dijana Protić - https://abeceded21.sg-host.com/autori/dijana-protic-2/
Contact: brajnovic@yahoo.com.