Public programme

What: online public programme, part of symbiomatter bioart lab 2022

When:

• 1 June, 7 pm (EEST), a lecture by dr. Nevena Ivanova in Bulgarian: Zoom link
• 2 June, 6:30 pm (EEST), a lecture by Saša Spačal in English: Zoom link
• 3 June, 6:30 pm (EEST), a lecture by dr. Špela Petrič in English: Zoom link

Where: zoom

symbiomatter bioart lab 2022 public programme is part of the seven-day free hybrid course, organised by symbiomatter: experimental arts lab.

Welcome to the first three lectures from that course led by dr. Nevena Ivanova (Bulgaria), Saša Spačal (Slovenia) and dr. Špela Petrič (Slovenia) which will be open to a wider audience.

symbiomatter bioart lab 2022 will begin with an introductory lecture delivered by dr. Nevena Ivanova, philosopher of technology, will present fundamental concepts and tendencies in bioart practices. The following two lectures are by internationally acclaimed bio artists Saša Spačal and dr. Špela Petrič, who will present some of the methodologies and ideas in their bioart projects.

Dr. Nevena Ivanova has a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary information studies from the University of Tokyo (Japan). She has published in the domains of philosophy of technology, media aesthetics, and critical software studies. Currently, she is an assistant professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and visiting professor in post-cybernetic aesthetics at Sofia University and NATFA.

Saša Spačal is a post-media artist that works at the intersection of artistic research of biological systems, contemporary art practices, and sound art. Her works are exhibited internationally and have received awards and nominations at prominent venues such as Prix Ars Electronica, Ars Electronica Starts Prize, Japan Media Art Award, Prix Cube, New Technology Art Award, and New Aesthetica Prize.

Dr. Špela Petrič is a bioart artist that holds an MFA from LUCA, Brussels, and a Ph.D. in biomedicine from the University of Ljubljana. Dr. Petrič received several awards, such as the White Aphroid for outstanding artistic achievement (Slovenia), the Bioart and Design Award (Netherlands), and an Award of Distinction at Prix Ars Electronica (Austria).

The public programme will be followed by three days of laboratory classes for ten selected artists. Prof. George Miloshev, associate professor Milena Georgieva and Mary Maggic will lead the three practical courses. The programme ends with a discussion of participants’ ideas and projects with the course’s mentors.

Prof. George Miloshev and associated professor Milena Georgieva from the Laboratory of molecular genetics at the Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are among the leading scientists in epigenetics worldwide. They have numerous publications in distinguished academic journals. Mary Maggic is a bioart artist that works at the intersection of contemporary art, speculative design, biopolitics, and ecology. Their work has been awarded at distinguished international forums such as Ars Electronica, DIYSECT, and BIO-FICTION.

symbiomatter bioart lab 2022 is a project of symbiomatter: experimental arts lab, curated by Nevena Ivanova and Albena Baeva. symbiomatter aspires to forge close bonds between scientists and artists in Bulgaria by introducing them to a shared workspace. The interdisciplinary mixture of lectures, laboratory practices, and artistic presentations works toward encouraging the mutual exchange of ideas, skills, and cognitive models between the scientists and the artists. The participants will have the opportunity to permanently join symbiomatter’s international network of contacts, collaborations, and initiatives, which seek to bridge science, art, and technology.

symbiomatter bioart lab 2022 is organized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund.