Captured Imaginaries (notes)

A work that is both pedalogical and poetic. Exploring themes like innovation, degrowth, ecology and existential risk. Providing a space that is both poetic and pedalogical. Continuing with the fictional space and mood I’ve created in a previous project. I want to explore how I can use fiction and pedagogy and poetry in one. I think it’s important that we address the illiteracy of us a people when it comes to technology and it’s risk.

The work at the moment ponders on the history of smuggling, from the use of caves in the 1700s along the sussex coast to software holes (zero days).

As an artist, user and citezan - I want to explore the idea that the gatekeepers and big tech are the monarchs of the day. Big tech has been created in such a way, that makes us feel like big tech is the only way. I want to make obvious the capturing of our imaginations when it comes to tech and computation, a provide a space for learning and a space for the emergence of a new imaginary when it comes to tech.

I want to provide a space we can question the assumptions that we are given by big tech.

I’ve questioned myself as an artist the validity of my opinion as a ‘non-expert’, but what I do know artists are trained in, is noticing and being very very aware of how one is being told to imagined, what is the imaginiary of technology in 2023.

There is obviously a history of people resisting this, the anarchists and the sci-fiction novelists.

There is such a strong narrative around innovation right now, just the assumption that there will be a chat gpt 5, 10, 20….

The whole imaginary around technology is captured by big tech right now, and as an artist that worries me. The work we do is creating alternative imaginaries, and having our own standards when it comes to imagination, aesthetic and art. And, I worry that something vital is being cut off right now. There must be other ways, and we need to hold these spaces as artist.

I do not have answers, but I do have an ability to open a space in which one can feel and imagine in relation to tech in an alternative way.

what is the role of an artist who mainly uses poetic spaces in their work? if an artist wants to talk about tech they should be a technologist, well what does this mean?

The design: narrative, 3D and interaction.

The next chapter could be a interrogation, the king arrives and says this is the way. I want to make a work that really makes it obvious.

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Explain your project and how you would realize it during the Summer Sessions

In Summer Sessions, I would like to build upon and realise a project I’ve been prototyping called ‘Will You Meet Me Here’. This work would accumulate into a 10/15minute video piece potentially with interactive elements and multiple channels.

This project explores the presences of dominant narratives around technologies, through an exploration of caves, holes and cavities as places for hiding, guarding, exploring and storytelling. The work makes a connection between the historical use of caves for smuggling and the software holes of today (also known as zero days), which allow someone to enter a computer system inconspicuously and smuggle information.

I have already built the main characters/players in this piece: the smuggler, the hacker and the cave. I have also introduced the idea of dominant narrative/ideology/authority through the presence of an ‘approaching king’. The smuggler/hacker wait in the cave to pass on information, all the while the danger of being found by the ‘king and his men’ is ever present. As the king approaches, we go further into the cave and meet ideas/terms/narratives that are pressed into the surrounding geology.

This (entering of the cave) is where the next chapter, which I would work on through this residency begins.

Through feedback, I have become aware that it could be radical and important to provide a pedagogical space, as well as a poetic one, for an audience to engage with, especially when one is making work about technology. There is a gap in literacy on the subject of technology (it’s use and future), and not only this I would argue that there is a capturing of imaginaries around the future and history of technology which extremely strong at the moment. In short, this work will be both poetic and pedological.

How this would be realised is an initial writing period, where I would develop the script and narrative design. Following this is a animating/filming/coding period, this is where I would develop the aesthetic of the inside of the cave. I seek to do this through 3D animation (specifically blender), live action, and VFX (such as rotoscoping). I’d also use TouchDesinger, mainly as an aesthetic tool to help develop my own standards when it comes to representing a digital space visually. Lastly, I would use some of the time to work with actors, as it is most likely that the text/script will need to be performed.

Other text:

Short description of the work:

Using prose, poetry, actors, animation/video and digital interaction software, I invite you to enter a cave wherein lies the forgotten futures and histories of technology and the people who seek to and have always resisted - insisting on keep the door of imagination open.

This project invites audiences into a space for alternative imaginaries around technology, and whilst there engage with important concepts/arguments/narratives that are embedded into conversations and public discourse on ‘tech’. Will You Meet Me Here, will help reveal the power dynamics that have always been present, whilst also providing a experiential place to dream about and explore other histories and imaginaries around technology.