Trending Networks Symposium

23 February to 24 February 2008. $30 entry.

Tending Networks will address new developments, connections, and opportunities in digital, new media and electronic art practice in New Zealand and internationally.

The symposium will feature presentations by major international artists Young Hae Chang Heavy Industries of Korea, and Adam Hyde, a New Zealander based in Amsterdam. A wide range of artists and researchers from Christchurch and around New Zealand will present current projects, and panel discussions will focus on the creation of new work, including the role of community networks, the value of collaboration, and the challenges posed by exhibiting digital art.

ADA, the Aotearoa Digital Arts Trust, invites artists, researchers, curators, art enthusiasts and all those interested in creative community networks from Christchurch and around New Zealand to participate. More detail on presenters and associated events follows.

Tending Networks takes place February 23-24, 2008, at the Design and Arts College of New Zealand, 116 Worcester St, Christchurch.

Cost: $50 (waged), $30 (unwaged and Physics Room members)
To register email: symposium@aotearoadigitalarts.org.nz

For programme details and updates see
http://symposium08.aotearoadigitalarts.org.nz/

The ADA Trust is pleased to announce the major international guests of Tending Networks, the Seoul-based art collective Young Hae Chang Heavy Industries (www.yhchang.com), whose multi-lingual, text-based online artworks have been shown at the Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou, the Whitney Museum and the Venice Biennale. Symposium attendees will have a unique chance to experience a new flash-based, digital artwork generated specifically for the symposium by these two leading Korean practitioners.

Also presenting is Amsterdam-based New Zealand artist and social entrepeneur Adam Hyde (http://www.xs4all.nl/~adam/), who has been an active producer and organiser in the European new media art scene for the past decade. Adam will discuss his own work, and also provide an overview of the role of online and offline networks in developing and nurturing new media art and open source software tools. Adam is also developing, with Julian Priest, 'A Geekosystem', an exhibition at The Physics Room where members of the public will be welcome to participate in creating new gadgets out of recycled electronic components.

An associated event is "Seance for Nam June Paik", a screening and performance event in the basement of the SoFA Gallery in the Christchurch Arts Centre. This playful tribute to the recently deceased Korean-born father of new media art attempts to summon up the genius of his interventions in new technologies.

Tending Networks is supported by The Physics Room Contemporary Art Project Space, Design and Arts College of New Zealand, Creative New Zealand, the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and the ADA Trust.

http://symposium08.aotearoadigitalarts.org.nz/