Lecture: Mihael Giba – Art and Technology: Symbiosis with the Possibility of Crime
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Digital coding has emerged from contemporary art and expanded into nearly all areas of human activity. It is therefore not surprising that artificial intelligence programs, computer games, virtual and augmented reality, and similar technologies are at the center of many artists’ practices. In contrast, post-digital art deals with evolving relationships with digital technologies and artistic forms, placing a greater emphasis on humanity than digitality.
Within contemporary aesthetics, which emphasizes human engagement in the pursuit of aesthetic experiences, the strong connection between artistic production and contemporary social, economic, and political issues (such as ecology, health crises, war conflicts, etc.) is becoming increasingly apparent. Through their creative work, artists aim to raise public awareness and contribute to the search for solutions.
In an era marked by the omnipresence of fake news and disinformation, the absence of objective criteria, and an overwhelming flood of online content whose truthfulness cannot be verified—often designed for aesthetic appeal rather than epistemic value—there is a growing need to explore the intersections of art, aesthetics, ethics, and politics. The recent rapid development of artificial intelligence has become a pressing and essential issue, and the question of alignment has emerged as a fundamental ontological concern beyond the domain of post-digital art.
Given this theoretical background and artistic production, participants are not expected to merely use contemporary AI media and applications as a way of signifying “contemporaneity” (engagement with the current or trendy). Instead, they are encouraged to critically examine these phenomena, question their direction, and consider their ultimate implications.
Selected participants are expected to actively engage in project-related activities, primarily of a scholarly nature, including lectures, workshops, a symposium, and a roundtable discussion. Participation in these activities should lead to a deeper understanding of post-digital phenomena and inspire both scientific and artistic approaches to its critique. Each participant is expected to produce a work resulting from their engagement with the project. These works may take various forms—produced in any medium, existing in digital or physical space, or written as an artistic concept, manifesto, essay, scientific research, or artistic creation. All works meeting the project’s criteria will be publicly presented, exhibited in an appropriate space, and published in the project’s final publication.
Participants will have access to mentorship provided by the project’s team, which includes:
- Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Brajnović
- Mentors: Assoc. Prof. Ingeborg Fülepp, Mag. Art. Dijana Protić (Academy of Applied Arts, University of Rijeka), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iris Vidmar Jovanović (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka).
This project is intended for students and alumni of the University of Rijeka, as well as anyone interested in attending the project’s lectures and workshops.
The project is a collaboration between the Center for Innovative Media (APURI) and the Department of Aesthetics (FFRI) and is financially supported by the University of Rijeka.