Center for Contemporary & Digital Performance Research Seminar Series presents Surfing Disciplines: From Antonin Artaud to neuroplastic arts? by Gordana Novakovic :: February 10, 2010; 2:00 pm (GMT) :: Drama Studio Gaskell Bld. 048, School of Arts, Brunel University, Uxbridge/West London, Cleveland Road + webcast at dance tech net TV.

The digital revolution is changing the nature of our perceptual processes, and this in turn is changing our conscious experience of the physical world, inducing changes in cognition on a scale that is still unknown. As inhabitants of the modern city we are in constant interaction, both active and passive, with digital technology. These facts concern all of us in different ways, but from my own perspective I want to ask: how does all this affect the artist? By looking at the evolution of ideas and research elements in my artistic practice, that now almost reads as a brief history of practices under the broad, quite unfortunate title of ‘New Media’ (mixed media, multimedia, computer art, computer animation, net.art, interactive art etc) I will talk about my quest to understanding the phenomena arising from the interaction with digital technologies. I will also tackle the theatrical and ritualistic elements of interactive art against the background of Artaud’s concept for the Theatre of Cruelty.

Gordana Novakovic belongs to the generation of artists who pioneered electronic art. Originally a painter, with 12 solo exhibitions to her credit, she now has more than 20 years of experience of developing and exhibiting large-scale time-based media projects. A constant characteristic of her work with new technologies has been her distinctive method of creating an effective cross-disciplinary framework for the emergence of synergy through collaboration. She has presented her work at major international festivals and venues, including ISEA, Ars Electronica, ICC (Inter Communication Center - Tokyo), and Tate Modern. Her most recent conference appearances were at Subtle Technologies ‘09, and as a keynote speaker at EVA London 2009. Her latest piece, Fugue, has been widely presented and exhibited, most recently at the ‘Infectious’ group show in the Science Gallery, Dublin, after which it was featured in the October issue of Nature Immunology. Since 2004, Gordana has been artist-in-residence at the Computer Science department, University College London, where in 2005 she founded the Tesla Art and Science Group with colleagues in the department. Tesla is an informal art and science discussion forum dealing with visionary ideas beyond the existing remits of art and science; it aims to form and nurture cross-disciplinary teams, projects, and networks. Gordana’s current work on neuroplastic art explores the possibilities lying at the intersection of art and brain science.

For further information on the Series, contact coordinator Gretchen Schiller or see our website.

The Center broadcast selected Performance Research Seminars live from our Drama Studio - making them available to anyone in the world interested in the subject. The one hour talks and 30 minute discussions are webcast live on dance tech net TV (then archived).

This co-production is part of a partnership between our Center and dance-techTV, and an experiment in collaborative live -streaming (the channel is dedicated to interdisciplinary explorations of the performance of movement. The channel allows worldwide 24/7 linear broadcasting of selected programs, LIVE streaming and Video On-demand.