Theme: POST SINGULARITY
This year’s theme is a follow-up on 2010’s theme The Singularity:
The technological singularity, or simply the singularity, is a hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence will have progressed to the point of a greater-than-human intelligence. Because the capabilities of such an intelligence may be difficult for a human to comprehend, the technological singularity is often seen as an occurrence (similar to a gravitational singularity) beyond which the future course of human history is unpredictable or even incomprehensible.
The first use of the term “singularity” in this context was by mathematician John von Neumann. It was popularized by science fiction writer Vernor Vinge, who argues that artificial intelligence, human biological enhancement, or brain-computer interfaces could be possible causes of the singularity. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts the singularity to occur around 2045 whereas Vinge predicts some time before 2030.
So the Singularity is a concept that suggests a possible future in which machines take over the world. This idea has been taken one step furter to explore this debatable future scenario and raise the question: If there will be a Singularity, what comes next? What role will humans play in Post-Singularity times? Is resistance futile? Will there be artificial art, generative music and visuals? What is the meaning of algorithms and autonomous systems?
About TEC ART
This year’s TEC ART is the 3rd edition of a mini festival during Art Rotterdam, offering five days and nights of exhibition, live events, electronic music and audio-art at WORM, institute for avantgardistic recreation. After 2 successful editions in Fenix warehouse in Katendrecht, TEC ART moves to THE cultural hot spot in Rotterdam, Witte de Withstraat. There the new exhibition spaces of WORM will be invaded by 360 degree video-projections, hypnotizing audiovisual installation, virtual realities and Zombie Apocalypse gamehacks. Interactive pop-up installations will be shown at the newly opened Kruisplein in front of Central Station, as well as Witte de Withbrug, the bridge near museum Boijmans. Eyecatcher is a larger than life boombox where visitors can release a wave of high volume gabber, terror and techno beats as a tribute to it’s birthplace, the industrial harbor of Rotterdam.
PLANETART & GOGBOT festival
TEC ART is organized by PLANETART foundation, home of the electronic (r)age, since 1995. What started as an artist collective grew to be an institution in the dutch media art scene, investigating contemporary and critical issues represented through cutting edge art, technology and popular culture.
As a preview project TEC ART is researching and developing ideas to be presented later that same year during GOGBOT. This annual art, music and technology festival in September in the city center of Enschede has been exploring themes like The Internet of Things (2015),
Spaceship Earth (2014
), Sex and Technology (2013),
Internet Memes (2012
), Datapanic-Japanoiiiid (2011
), The Singularity (2010),
Atom Punk (2009
), Steam Punk (2008),
Mediapolis (2007).