Margherita
Pevere | Anatomy of an inter-connected system
15
July, 2017, 2-6PM
Starting point of this seminar is the artist’s research at
the junction of visual arts, theoretical inquiry and investigation
of biological processes. The seminar focuses on the discourses regarding
human-nature relationship in the frame of today’s environmental
crisis and how artistic practices involving living organisms and
technology can innovatively contribute to the debate. How can artists
problematise the complex interconnection between humans and the
biosphere in a hyper-technological era? With what kind of aesthetic
and ethical implications? The project aims at engaging the audience
in a performative discussion with a visual outcome.
The seminar is structured in two parts: a presentation and a participative
performance. In the presentation, Pevere introduces key concepts
in the history of human relationship towards nature and how these
have influenced society, religion and knowledge production. How
did humans perceive nature in the Middle Ages? And in the Renaissance?
How did this affect society and the arts? What are Anthropocentrism
and the Anthropocene? Moving from this theoretical overview, Pevere
critically presents her own artistic practice along with a selection
of other artist’s works involving organic matter and technology.
In the participative performance, the artist engages in a discussion
with the audience about the themes of anthropocentrism and relationships
between human and non-human living beings. Ethical aspects of the
presented artistic practices will be addressed. During the discussion-performance,
the artist draws and writes notes about the debate on a sheet of
paper as large as the gallery wall and invites members of the audience
to do the same. The resulting graffiti will be a visualization of
the discussion as well a symbolic map of the interconnections between
humans and the biosphere.
Deeply fascinated by biological processes, Margherita Pevere
is a visual artist and researcher investigating decay and transformation
of human and non-human matter. Her practice features a unique combination
of organic and technological materials: she grows bacterial cultures,
manipulates paper and photographic film, collects organic relics,
captures ephemeral lights with digital video and plans to store
a digitized collection of memories on bacterial genome. Pevere received
a Masters at the Berlin University of the Arts and is now a PhD
candidate in Artistic Research at Aalto University in Helsinki (FIN).
She is member of the Finnish Bioart Society. Most recent exhibitions
include the Article Biennial – i/o lab, Stavanger (NO) and
State Festival, Berlin. margheritapevere.com
360
degree video of Anatomy of an Inter-connected System by Margherita
Pevere,
Click, hold, and drag inside the cameo to move the image around. Video
by www.lililashka.com
2018
All photos(c) Tim Deussen/ Studio Deussen
