Students’ media art daringly combines art and technology
19.05.2014
What would it be like to see your own face reflected as a giant statue and be the centre of attention, if only for a moment? What do the electrical signals all around us actually look like?
The electronic artworks by students from Aalto University are changing viewers into active participants at the Happy Ever After exhibition at Helsinki’s Kaapelitehdas (the Cable Factory) in May. The art objects in the exhibition reflect a desire to raise discussion about people’s dependence on technology and continuous real-time interaction.
Technological developments have enabled artists to work with sophisticated interactive technologies. This reflects the changes in everyday life. Art should be seen at its most vigorous as a force for change which exerts an impact on both culture and design.
‘Art and technology isn’t anything new in itself, but in the art world it is marginalised. For this reason it’s important to bring this sort of effort out in the open,’ declares media artist Andy Best, one ofthe exhibition’s curator’s and teacher.
The exhibition is made up of works by eight students who have been studying art and technology as a minor subject. Many of the works are interactive, so they require participation from the audience and a little painstaking effort as well. In the best scenario, these works encourage participants to consider their own presence in various interactive situations – not only in art but also in the use of the media and technology.
The works in the exhibition have been realized by Gabriel Wong, Olli Romppanen, Jinhee Kim, Niklas Kullström, Eunyoung Park, Heun Park, Barbara Rebolledo and Ian Tuomi. Artist Matti Niinimäki has acted as the other curator and teacher.
The Happy Ever After exhibition in the Turbine Hall (Turbiinisali) at Kaapelitehdas from 17th until 29 May, Tallberginkatu 1, Helsinki. Open: 12 am to 6 pm, free admission.
Further information:
http://mediafactory.aalto.fi/happy-ever-after/
