Opening this week: The Games Europe Plays – BODY <> TECH
On our radar this week is a new exhibition opening for Summer 2016. Check out:
The Games Europe Plays – BODY<>TECH
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery at the University of Greenwich
7 July – 26 August 2016
Marco Donnarumma (Italy)
Here’s more more about the exhibition from the press release:
Exploring our body from its hidden micro bacteria to its digital incarnations, The Games Europe Plays – BODY<>TECH takes a playful look at how digital technologies are helping us to heal but can also disturb our wellbeing. Presenting the works of interactive artists and game makers from the UK and continental Europe, the show envisions how we will inhabit and take care of our virtual and physical bodies in the future.
Join us this summer in Greenwich to meet A.I. (artificially insane) avatars, enter the whole genome sequenc-ing of bacteria in virtual reality and rebalance yourself through play.
Go on a journey where your body, mind and senses will be guided and confounded. Are you ready to explore the uncanny valley?
With: Anna Dumitriu with Alex May (UK), Ivor Diosi (Czech Republic), Marco Donnarumma (Italy), Blast The-ory (UK), Designwarm (UK) and Grendel Games (Netherlands)
In ‘Molding the Signifier’ by Ivor Diosi you’ll meet 3 chatty avatars who get infected by a mysterious bacteria slowly disrupting their conversation and behaviour. Anna Dumitriu with Alex May turn Staphylococcus aureus bacteria collected on her body into an installation and a virtual reality experience. Marco Donnarumma uses his heart beats, blood stream and muscle contractions to create digital music and media. The beautiful Good Night Lamp by Designwarm uses the Internet of Things technology to tell a loved one ‘I’m thinking of you’ at a distance. Blast Theory’s app Karen (UK) is a life coach who gets a little bit too friendly and intrusive. If you feel a bit disturbed after all these experiences, Dutch game ‘Songs of Elstryn’ will invite to rebalance yourself physically and mentally.
The exhibition is the second in a series of three shows initiated by EUNIC London and curated by body tech-nologist and digital expert Ghislaine Boddington (Creative Director, body>data>space / Reader CPDA Uni-versity of Greenwich). They bring to the UK the best independent and innovative games and digital experi-ences made in Europe with a strong emphasis on design, virtual interactivity and physical engagement.
‘BODY<>TECH engages in a debate in Europe around gaming and interactive works that represent our bod-ies and minds. Showing projects both with social purpose and artistic intents the works in this exhibition dis-play a way of being in a new world – where the inside moves outside, the digital helps the physical, virtual and physical intimacies merge. The Games Europe Plays – BODY<>TECH reflects on potential digital physical “bodies” of the future’ Ghislaine Boddington.
The Games Europe Plays is a EUNIC London project, produced by the Finnish Institute and body>data>space. Initiated by the Czech Centre, the project is supported by British Council and Arts Council England. It is presented at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery and supported by the University of Greenwich (Department of Creative Professions & Digital Art), in association with Nesta’s FutureFest and London Games Festival. With additional support from the Czech Centre, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Em-bassy of the Netherlands.
- Press View: Wednesday 6 July at 4pm, please rsvp to Marie Proffit: marie@bodydataspace.net
- Opening: Wednesday 6 July at 6.30pm, please rsvp to a.e.craft@gre.ac.uk
- Colloquium: Join us on Thursday 7 July from 11am to 4pm at the University of Greenwich (SE10 9BD) for a day of colloquium with curator Ghislaine Boddington and Digital Arts Lead Ian Thompson, associated art-ists and experts.
The Games Europe Plays – BODY<>TECH
The Stephen Lawrence Gallery / University of Greenwich / 10 Stockwell St, London SE10 9BD
The exhibition is open to the public from 7 July – 26 August 2016: Tuesday-Friday: 11am-5pm
Saturday: 11am-4pm. Tweet us at #GamesEU
http://europe.org.uk/event/the-games-europe-plays-body-tech/
Note to editors
The Games Europe Plays
In 2016 ‘The Games Europe Plays’ brings to the UK audience a selection of independent and innovative games and interactive experiences made in Europe. Kicking off at the Finnish Institute in London April 2016 as part of London Games Festival, it will now show at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery at the Uni-versity of Greenwich in July/August and culminate in September 2016 as an exhibition as part of FutureFest (Nesta). ‘The Games Europe Plays’ is a series of exhibitions and events inviting developers and experts from continental Europe and the UK to meet and debate with UK audience and professionals. http://europe.org.uk/project/the-games-europe-play/
EUNIC London
EUNIC London (European Union National Institutes for Culture) is the network of the cultural institutes and embassies from the member states of the European Union in London. A branch of EUNIC Global, the Lon-don network was established in 2007 and has at present 32 members who share knowledge and re-sources in order to promote greater cooperation and develop partnerships between European nations and UK organisations. EUNIC London is a proud initiator, organiser and supporter of creative projects highlight-ing Europe’s fantastic diversity in arts, culture and language. The Finnish Institute, British Council, Czech Centre and all involved institutes in TGEP are members of ENIC London. http://europe.org.uk
Finnish Institute in London
The Finnish Institute in London is a private, non-profit trust bringing together individuals, communities and organisations. Our mission is to identify emerging issues important to contemporary society in Finland, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. We encourage cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration by creating networks and building new partnerships. We work with artists, creatives, academics and policy-makers. http://www.finnish-institute.org.uk
Ghislaine Boddington
Co-founder and Creative Director of body>data>space and Women Shift Digital, is a curator, presenter and thought leader specialising in body responsive technologies, Ghislaine is recognised as an international pio-neer advocating the use of the entire body as a digital interaction canvas for over 25 years. A co-creator and director of many art works exploring the hyper enhancement of our human senses through the digital and a lead director of international multi-partner projects, she is co-curator of FutureFest 2016 – a festival of ideas hosted by Nesta, innovation foundation – and is a Reader in the Department of Creative Professions and Digital Art at the University of Greenwich. http://www.bodydataspace.net
The British Council
British Council is the UK’s international cultural relations organisation. Arts is a cornerstone of the British Council’s mission to create a friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and the wider world. We find new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through the arts, to develop stronger creative sectors around the world that are better connected with the UK. https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts
Stephen Lawrence Gallery / The University of Greenwich
University of Greenwich Galleries was set up in 2013 to manage the expansion in gallery provision resulting from the development of the new academic building in Stockwell Street. The Stephen Lawrence Gallery was founded in 2000 on the initiative of the then Dean, Paul Stigant, working in close partnership with Stephen’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, who had been a student at the University in 1993 when her son was murdered in a racist attack. The gallery aims to promote diversity in the representation of visual cultures through mainly curated group exhibitions featuring the work of young contemporary visual practitioners from a wide range of disciplines, including artists, designers, and architects. http://www.greenwichunigalleries.co.uk
Blast Theory’s app Karen
Grendel Games
