FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2003

GROUP DISCUSSION NOTES

Perception
Experience
Embodiment
Mutable bounderies

Relationship with/within the world-phenomenology-embodiment
Shifting perceptions
Too aware of the technology
Use in a context—human/environment integration
Subversion in nature
Non intrusive technology
Interface—there is no good interface in existence that can analyse space – need to better be able to navigate space between body and environment
Physical algorithms behind

Role of technology in making a new/another reality
Capturing nature- reality into computer
Real versus artificial
Virtual reality-extruding ourselves via imagination into world

NEW MEDIA – NATURAL WORLD
- debate eclipsed by other events
INFLUENCE
1. Models of methodologies and concepts
2. the question of interfaces
relationship between
3. MEANING / the TOOL and the EXPERIENCE

REPRESENTATION AND MEANING

RESPONSE/REACTION

absence not presence

"comment upon...."

Importance of
- Collaborative work with people inhabiting these places
- End user relationship
- Links -deeper
- spending time watching/ looking/ feeling the site/place

Progress

Archival process important

Connections

Where does it plug in?

Tradition-invisible histories, past knowldger

Advocacy

Utopian spaces online

Does Complexity bring stability

The world we want to have

Aesthetics drivers, ethical drivers- purpose alone = diversity

Need to qualify beyond places

Non destructive intervention

Human presence

Abstract - literal - physical

Stones/metaphors vs simulations- reality

Natural? Artifice?

Community planning models

Landscape architecture- modellling alternatives
Strong ECO ethos

ECO-TECH artists/projects/forms mentioned by group

John Cathan

Andreas de Castro

NAC Mexico- walks and draws- ecological trace

Arco Sante-Arizona desert community

CAT- Wales

Biosphere- Nations of Utopia

Findhorn- intentional communties

Accidental Centre A+7

- APG-placement of incidental person – John Lathan

Meet Factory- Finland- Iceborg

Maida Withers

Saka Seydhou

Germaine Acgony

Avatar based VR worlds which creates and grows things

Rules require responsibility

Jane Prophet's technosphere

Sym City

Sandy Stone/ Bruce Damer

Centre for human ecology

Senegal/Netherlands project and Germaine Acgoncy - nature and technology

Lee Valley Park Authority – Gunpowder park - FROS SITE – field station for development of eco tech projects

Linked to Banff center - www.horizonzero.ca

PROJECT – talk input
Banff National park
Complex environment
Aboriginal culture, life cycles, mythos
Physiological/ geographical power
History tied to physical place

How do you relate to this environment?
- Wildlife/human, tourist zone
- Wilderness/prey
- Technologised space in nature
- Extreme sports
- Clothing

Programmes
- Include time outside
- Consistant relationship with natural environments
- Dealing with eco issues, both physical and human

BANFF – New Media dept
- Theory and debate
- Workshops
- Co-produced programmes
- Residency programmes

Currently exploring the issues of:
- Globalisation
- Identity
- Architecture

Transitory
Emotional
Tourism

NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS

What is Eco-Tech? - DEFINITION

Nature is one eg. of ecology

Connecting art to ecology

Making work in particular way

Ecosystems in widest context

Environmental issues in art work

Tech changes your experience of walk

Earth centred technology- nurture relationship

Understanding

Intuitive

No desires / directions esp. for eco tech

Ways of working around place

Eco technology is a specific area

Where does environment begin and end?

Virtual ( invisible) making visible processes of nature

Interfaces- way in

No emotional

No intuitive - ignores physical

Yes mechanical

Natural world- how to interface

Friendly?

Simulated?

Interpretation

Sucessful interfaces

In this world?

City as interface - body, elements

Space as interface

Relationship as interfaces

Surface as interface

Time as interface

Direct physical intuitive

Meaningful

Adaptive

Organic

Interface, embodiment, how triggered, awareness/process

Proprioception?

Design

Nature - self design

Emergent systems - cities for example

Transparency

Technology. based emergent systems

Technology orientated development

Connectivity and furthering connections

SUMMARY OF NEEDS:-

1. ADVOCACY
2. DEFINITION OF PRACTICE
3. COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS - between artists and ecologists and communities
4 . CONTEXTS
5 . METHODOLOGIES IN RELATION TO PLACE
6 . ARTIST INVOLVEMENT IN THINKING HOW COMMUNITIES WORK
7 . ACCESS/IN ROADS TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND CONTEXTS
e.g. cultural festivals, big green gathering
8 .RECOGNITION AND PR
9 . RE-INSITUTIONALISATION OR DE-INSTITUTIONALISATION
10 . TARGETTING INSTITUTIONS – finding ways in
11. DIVERSE STRATEGIES AT THE CENTRE
12. Last revolution DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY . Next wave is ETHICS – need to activate DISCOURSE AROUND ETHICS
13. STRUCTURAL ALLLIANCES – difficult , need to build them

Physical
- Psychological
- Emotion

1.Inner
2.Interpersonal
3.Extrapersonal
4.Interplanetary
5.Extraplanetary