Scouted by STRP \ What’s in store for the future of art hearts technology?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. As far as you can look, you see dead bodies surrounding you. All you can smell is the dirt you are covered in. The number of casualties is terrifying and increasing. The destructive force that took you down is unknown to you. This is not another news report about earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks or civil war. Instead of reading about it in your Sunday morning paper or watching it on the evening news, you are a part of it.

written by Laura Graat and Renee Schmeetz

Adri Schokker’s installation ‘Reconstruction of a Catastrophe’ puts you in the middle of a battle field and makes you question your own behavior through technology. This technological art project is nominated for the STRP Talent Pit Award, which aspires to encourage the development of art and technological innovation. Young Dutch artists were scouted for their talent and potential to become the next Floris Kaayk.

Approximately ten artist compete for the chance to win a consultation with V2 (Institute for Unstable Media) and the Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst (NIMk), plus the opportunity to exhibit their work at STRP Festival 2012.

One of the nominees is Maria Zendrera Valsecchi. Valsecchi interrupts unaware passers-by from their daily shopping routine and asks them to take part in her virtual hitchhiking trip. Imagine walking towards a shopping isle and being interrupted by a laptop that starts talking to you. Zendrera Valsecchi, who is situated at the other end of a Skype-connection, asks you to take her on an adventure in public space. Explore how modern ways of communication change your definition of space and social interaction and how real and virtual space relate in the project ‘Hitchhiking.’

Experience all of the nominated projects during STRP Festival, November 18-27, and vote for the one that most affects your perception of art and technology in our society. The fifth edition of STRP is dedicated to fifty years of Dutch media- and technological art. By exhibiting the nominated projects at the STRP Talent Pit Award, the festival is not only looking back on their heritage, but also investing in opportunities of the future.

Laura Graat en Renee Schmeetz write under the name of Department of Doing -a marketing & communication office for the cultural sector- providing blogs for the STRP Festival 2011.

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STRP Festival
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