Media State presented exhibitions, events, forums and workshops which explored the connection between, and intervention of, media arts in our lives. The program consisted of several strands:
Media States Forum
This publicly accessible forum day was held at the State Library of South Australia. The program was an in-depth investigation of the media arts intervention into public debates and spaces – focusing thematically on projects, perspectives and networks that intersect urban, regional and biological arenas.
With the participation of Deborah Kelly, Robin Minard (Canada), Steve Kurtz (USA), Alison Carroll and Roger Malina (France) the day long discussions focused on Media artists working in public through mobile phone artwork, guerrilla style projections, bio-art performances, architecturally embedded sound bytes and video in transportation nodes. The day also looked at the tapestry of media arts residential projects and networking across the Asia Pacific region.
Hard Copy
Hard Copy presented a professional, strategic workshop on publishing the outcomes of, and criticism about, interdisciplinary creative art practices. Professionals in art criticism and interdisciplinary creative work were invited to join the discussion in Adelaide at the State Library which was facilitated by Roger Malina, Executive Editor of Leonardo publications.
Hard copy was co-organised by ANAT and Creativity and Cognition Studios at UTS Sydney and the Fibreculture network. Participants included key organsiations such as MC Journal, RealTime, Australia Council for the Arts, Smart Internet Technology CRC, and the Australian Research Council.
Mobile Journeys
Mobile Journeys is an exhibition of art made for mobile phones, which was designed to both inspire and challenge the way the general public think about and use their phones. The exhibition was launched by Nikki Downer and attracted a high level of attendance.
The portable artworks were created by eight of Australia’s best known and emerging artists: Ian Andrews, Rebecca Cannon, Chris Fulham, Tina Gonsalves, Ian Haig, Shane Ingram, Megan Heyward and Mark Simpson. Their videos, games and wallpapers were available for free distribution to the exhibition audiences mp3 players, PDAs, and mobile phones, via an Aura Hypertag Billboard.
Presented in partnership with industry partners including D.lux Media Arts, AIMIA, Aura Digital, Motorola, State Library of South Australia.
Media State also contained a program developed in partnership with the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts 2006, to showcase large-scale, engaging and unique media arts projects and events:
The Peoples' Portrait by Zhang Ga (USA) joined Adelaide with other global cities via a large-scale publicly located portrait projection in the Rundle Mall at King William Street with additional viewing screens in The Advertiser Foyer. It was a free publicly accessible event from 3-19 March.
alva noto, a compelling audiovisual performance of sound compositions morphed into electronic projections. Artist Carsten Nicolai (Germany), earned a reputation as a highly innovative and experimental practitioner who works across installation, sound and performance. The performance was held at Elder Hall.
Project 3 delivers a rich program of electronic and computer music and film by local, national and international artists. Artistic Director Michael Yuen’s program of contemporary and historical electronic arts, encompassed four free and low entry price events all exploring cutting-edge and experimental sound, video and installation:
• SonicSpace
• Street Cinema
• Silent Music (by Robin Minard)
• Project 3 Artist Talks
The Emerging Fields Forum showcased the leading edge practice of internationally renowned media artists Zhang Ga, Chico MacMurtrie and Carsten Nicolai. From robotics and the internet, sound art to wearable technology, the panel highlighted the imagination and tenacity of practitioners working in evolving and emerging fields of art practice.
ARI Workshops, open to emerging artists, recent graduates and art school students. Artist Run Initiatives (ARIs) offer a platform for artists to take control and direction of the way their work is presented to the public, whilst encouraging artistic freedom, flexibility and innovation.
