Category: Exhibitions

Digital Oxymoron
group show
Digitalni oksimoron
22 November – 8 December 2023

GT22, Maribor
curator: Irena Borić
producer: Sonda Foundation

Igor Štromajer presents his new work:
Quantum Dawn or Transcending Political Anxiety
ㄴ (Non)Data Traps

[20 mousetraps for non-mice]

Kvantna zarja ali Preseganje politične tesnobe
ㄴ (ne)podatkolovke

[mišnice: 20 mišelovk za nemiši]

· artists: Format C (Dina & Vedran Gligo), Hrvoje Hiršl, Petra Mrša, Toni Soprano Meneglejte, Andrej Škufca, Igor Štromajer, Ivana Tkalčić

»The exhibition focuses on the materiality of the digital and examines the sense of intangibility that resides somewhere in the speed of a web page load, the reliability of an image stored in the cloud, or the temporary sense of intimacy of a chat that takes place over corporate servers. The screen before us offers immersive worlds where colours, speeds, processing power and storage processes intertwine, while masking the fact that it owes its existence and functioning to metals and minerals. The virtual can easily appear immaterial, as it is a virtual space beyond the keyboard, even though it is a mechanism based on physical premises and has concrete consequences for the environment and society. The dependence of media technology on various geological materials, geophysical forces and vast global networks of energy and supply chains is not obvious. The backdrop of the production and operation of digital technologies supporting complex economic, social and political systems is successfully obscured by ever smaller and more portable digital equipment. But, as in the book Digital Rubbish. A natural history of electronics, professor and researcher Jennifer Gabrys points out, “from silicon to microchip, and from microchip to underground contamination, a complex series of mutations occur that allow electronic technologies to evolve.” As we know, microchips made of silicon are actually the hardware that allows information to be transmitted in the form of electrical signals, or on-off signals. The transmission of information into bits or binary units, where electrical pulses are involved, is based on this very composite of silicon, chemicals, metals, plastics and energy. It is therefore clear that a huge amount of (natural) materials and resources are needed to create the virtual. At the same time, the narrative of the virtuality of the digital is conditioned and influenced by the online exchange and circulation of capital. End-users often fail to understand that digital waste is not only hardware and computer monitors, but also has environmental, social, political and economic consequences. Precisely because the extent of these consequences is not obvious, the exhibition explores the different poetics and politics of digital technologies from our side of the screen.«

— Irena Borić, curator

»In Quantum Dawn or Transcending Political Anxiety – (Non)Data Traps (2023), Igor Štromajer establishes a humorous dialogue by placing twenty mousetraps in the atypical exhibition space of GT22. Mousetraps everywhere, but not for mice. Like the miniature servers in their cages, the mousetraps are miniature terrariums with bio- and electronic parts (chips, cables, computer parts), and the artist questions our position in relation to the predicaments of new technologies. The term ‘quantum dawn’ also refers to a series of cyber-security exercises that allow financial institutions and the sector as a whole to practice and improve coordination with key industry and government partners to keep the financial market functioning in the event of a systemic cyber-attack. On the other hand, the term ‘non-data’ does not mean that there is no data, but is a physical term and is used in quantum physics to refer to another state of data, as every data has its opposite, i.e. non-data.«

— Irena Borić, curator

Continue reading “Digital Oxymoron · Quantum Dawn”

IFCA – 29th International Festival of Computer Arts
Periodization of space and time through the intermedia

MFRU – 29. Mednarodni festival računalniške umetnosti
Periodizacija prostora in časa skozi intermedijsko

Maribor, 6–13 October 2023
group exhibition opening: 6 October 2023
curator: Aleksandra Gruden

Igor Štromajer participates with two works:

1.

· BE.YOND – & # 1 0 0 1 0 ;
· ON.KRAJ – & # 1 0 0 1 0 ;

by !gor #352;

Photo: Bojan Golčar

Δ S ≥ ∅

1 1 0 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 0 7 1 1 3 9 7 1 0 1 2 9 7 3 1 1 2 7 9 1 1 1 1 1 7 9 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 7 1 1 1 2 7 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 7 9 0 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 7 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 2 7 1 3 1 1 2 7 1 3 0 9 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 7 1 3 1 1 2 7 1 1 9 2 1 3 9 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 9 7 1 1 1 3 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1 1 3 1 1 2 7 1 1 1 7 1 1

Photo: Mitja Lorenčič

+ !gor #352;‘s speech at the launch of the satellite/festival · YouTube

2.

· Igor Štromajer in conversation with Igor Štromajer
Artist Talk, 40:26

· Igor Štromajer v pogovoru z Igorjem Štromajerjem
pogovor z umetnikom, 40:26

Vetrinjski dvor
– projekcija: v torek, 10. oktobra 2023 ob 19h

“Watch out for false artists. They come to you in artists’ clothing, but inwardly they are lifeless algorithms.”
— Mathview 7:15

“Varujte se lažnih umetnikov, ki prihajajo k vam v umetnikovih oblačilih, znotraj pa so neživi algoritmi.”
— Mathview 7:15

+

TV Slovenija · Tele M · TV report · 6 October 2023

a=tF²
To find the art (a), you multiply the time (t) by the square of the force (F)

After asking ChatGPT to describe what my exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo would look like if I were to exhibit there and to write a newspaper article, a fictional review of my non-existent exhibition there, I ordered openAI/DALLE·2 to visualise this non-existent exhibition of mine.

1) ChatGPT description of my exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo:

It is difficult to say exactly what an exhibition of Igor Štromajer’s artworks at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris would look like as it would depend on the specific works he chose to include and how they were curated and presented. However, given Štromajer’s focus on new media and performance art, it is likely that the exhibition would incorporate elements of technology and interactivity.

It could be a multimedia installation that explores the relationship between technology and intimacy, featuring projections, sound, and performance elements. For example, the exhibition could include interactive video installations that examine the impact of technology on our personal lives, or a performance piece that explores themes of surveillance and privacy. The exhibition could also feature a series of digital artworks that investigate the relationship between technology and the human body.

Additionally, it could be that the exhibition would be designed to be participatory, encouraging visitors to engage with the works in a hands-on way. Štromajer’s work often invites the audience to take an active role in the art, generating a new experience for each visitor.

Overall, an exhibition of Igor Štromajer’s artworks at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris would likely be a thought-provoking and immersive experience that explores the intersection of technology, art, and humanity.

2) ChatGPT fictional review of my non-existent exhibition at the Palais de Tokio:

Igor Štromajer: A Master of the Digital Age at Palais de Tokyo

PARIS – The Palais de Tokyo in Paris is currently hosting an exhibition of the works of Slovenian artist Igor Štromajer, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. The exhibition, entitled “Digital Age,” showcases Štromajer’s mastery of technology and its integration into the world of art.

The exhibition is a feast for the senses, with an array of interactive installations that allow the viewer to fully immerse themselves in Štromajer’s world. One of the highlights of the exhibition is “Cyber Synapse,” an interactive installation that explores the connection between the human brain and technology. The piece features a large screen displaying a constantly evolving digital landscape, with sensors placed around the room that respond to the viewer’s movements and brainwaves, creating a truly unique and personal experience.

Another standout piece is “Virtual Reality,” an installation that takes the viewer on a journey through a digital world, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The use of virtual reality technology immerses the viewer in the piece, making them feel as if they are truly a part of Štromajer’s world.

The exhibition also includes several of Štromajer’s digital paintings, which are just as mesmerizing as the interactive installations. The paintings feature bold, bright colors and abstract shapes, creating a sense of movement and energy that is truly captivating.

Overall, Igor Štromajer’s exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo is not to be missed. The artist’s use of technology in his work creates a truly unique and thought-provoking experience for the viewer. The exhibition runs until the end of the month, and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.