The exhibition “/ TEHNO / ECO / SYSTEMS” is created as part of the New Media and Digital Art Festival UPDATE that took place from Nov 21 until Nov 26, 2022.
Please enjoy the created works, new knowledge and video recordings of all the UPDATE events on our specially created online exhibition experience: https://update.aste.gallery
The exhibition will be open until December 18, 2022 (Zivju iela 10/12, Liepaja).
UPDATE is organized by ASTE, a collective of media artists based in Liepaja and Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab, https://mplab.lv). ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. UPDATE is created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF), Liepaja University and RIXC. UPDATE events are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food in Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
ART+ will not run on devices that don’t support Google services.
ART+ was created to allow digital, sound art, 3D and conceptual artists to exhibit their work publicly without gallery restrictions. ART+ features visual, conceptual, interactive, educational and also playful works for children. ART+ artists create and exhibit what they feel is relevant, so artworks in the app are diverse, and the creators of ART+ are confident that everyone will be able to find a topic that interests them.
Magical and ecological works
Since ART+ brings together artists who are also researchers from different fields, most ART+ works are based on data, concepts, reflect scientific processes and ideas. This year, a large part of works are related to ecology and food. Visually, the new ART+ works look magical, fantastic – evergreen fields, root forests, glittering himmeli, fish swimming in the air, huge, generative vines, food towers, scanned living rooms and other works.
In the “Anna’s market” square, two works can be seen that show the eating habits of Latvians – food towers and potato piles show how much and what kind of food we eat in a year. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, carrots and cabbages stretched into the sky and swaying in the wind, but potato piles can be used to compare how eating habits have changed – Latvians today wat almost twice less potatoes than 10 years ago.
In the Radi Vidi Pats community garden ART+ users can see “Another Way to Grow” – an aquaponics system that is designed so that the viewer can study every detail and component; also from within. Aquaponics is a plant growing method that uses fish and fish waste to grow plants in water.
In Seaside Park, near the Monument For The Fishermen And Sailors Lost At Sea, two works can be seen, each of which in its own way illustrates the problems regarding lawns. “White Clover” is an evergreen meadow placed on top the park’s lawn, reminding the viewer that clover could be a beautiful and ecological alternative to the traditional lawn. While the work “Roots” visualizes the reason why some plants, such as lawn grass, need to be watered in the summer, while others, such as clover, tolerate drought much better.
Elza Ozola’s “Digital Leftovers” is the artist’s comment on our digitally connected rooms and on the busyness of today’s human mind, the constant daily anxiety and stress, symbolized in the work by scanned messes of different people. Kaspar Levald’s “Traveler from another reality” also comments on online communication tools – how friends, acquaintances, colleagues today are faces on flat screens.
The work of Marta Gutmane can be seen at the entrance of the Liepaja Latvian Society House, which illustrates the anxiety felt by the artist and the changes in eating habits caused by the increasingly alarming climate and energy crisis.
“Rockabye” by sound artist Krista Dintere and himmeli made by Patrick Borgeat can be found in the children’s playground of Seaside Park. Both artists use the idea of repetition in the work that they created together. Right next to “Rockabye”, there is another audiovisual work of art – a huge, generative creeper that responds to piano music. Headphones are recommended when viewing both of these works.
How to view work in augmented reality?
The viewer will need a smartphone or a tablet (with GPS and internet connection). The viewer needs to go to the app store and download ART+. If you already have ART+ on your device, you need to go to the app store and update it.
A virtual object is located at a specific location shown on the map. The viewer must find this place and step onto the point, then he will be given the opportunity to press the button “View the artwork”. At this point, the object is placed on top or next to the viewer, and they can start their experience – walk around or enter the artwork, step back to see the object as a whole, or go closer to look at textures.
If something seems to have gone wrong, if the object does not look as it should, restart the app.
The ART+ curator will be happy to accompany groups on tours of ART+ works and tell more about the technical and artistic process of creating the app and artworks. For communication: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430).
ART+ is created by ASTE, a Liepaja based collective of artists. All ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. ART+ artworks are created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF). ART+ objects are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food In Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
From November 21 to 26, in various places in Liepaja and online, an educational and entertaining program about art, especially new media and digital art, and technology will be available to anyone interested. The UPDATE festival brings together artists from various fields who use technologies in their works – smart technologies, machine learning, artificial intelligence, specific programs, and unique approaches. All festival activities are open and free of charge to anyone interested, regardless of age or previous education.
Educational program – masterclasses on weekday evenings and “Family Day”
As part of the UPDATE festival, 5 masterclasses will be available online and in Liepaja (MPLab, Kurmajas pr. 13, in the basement) and online (link: https://ej.uz/update22). Masterclasses will take place from Monday to Thursday every day from 17:00 to 19:00.
On Monday and Tuesday evening, two parallel two-day masterclasses are available for participants – on the interactive tool TouchDesigner and the use of machine learning in art practice.
On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, there will be a two-day masterclass on the Raspberry Pi camera – participants will learn how to use this DIY (do-it-yourself) device as a tool to create photo and video works, also learning different automation approaches, using a camera over a network, and photo and video processing techniques.
Parallel to the Raspberry Pi camera masterclass, participants can choose to join a performance by Vilnius University PhD student Jan Glockner on tea ceremony traditions and meditation, the importance of ecological art and research methods of eco and bio art. This masterclass will take place on Wednesday evening. On Thursday evening, there will be a performance by the Belgian artist Bartaku, who will be using the human body as a sound instrument.
The masterclasses by Bartaku and Jan Glockner will be interesting to those who want to expand their views of the world, who want to gain new insights into what it means to live in the existing conditions.
“Family Day” on Saturday, November 26, from 12:00 (Zivju street 10/12)
Saturday’s program includes discussions and talks about ecology, gardening and art, mini workshops for children, and there will be an opportunity to view the exhibition works on display at the same address.
12:00 – discussion and talks about the use of technology in the garden, garden automation, creation and use of aquaponics and hydroponics 13:00 – discussion and talks about incorporating permaculture principles and ideas into any garden 14:00 – 16:00 workshops for children and young people, special excursions in the exhibition of works created within the framework of the festival
Opening of the exhibition “Techno / eco / systems” on Saturday, November 26, at 18:00 (Zivju street 10/12)
The exhibition artists are exploring the relationship between a person, nature, and technology. In the exhibition visitors will see VR works, works created by artificial intelligence, installations, etc. Artists from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Latvia participate in the exhibition: Bartaku (BE/FI), Maria Verstappen&Erwin Driessens (NL), Jan Georg Glöckner (DE/LT), Maija Demitere (LV), etc.
The exhibition will be open until December 18 (Zivju iela 10/12).
The reason why the UPDATE festival takes place in Liepaja is the active work of the employees of Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab) and the association ASTE, a group of alumni of the New Media Art study program, and their aim to create an environment in which Liepaja residents, especially students, children, and youth, would have access the latest technologies and an opportunity to meet the people who work with them. For festival organizers and lecturers, technology is a work tool that provides endless creative and work opportunities, and they will be happy to share their skills and approaches with festival participants.
Additional information on the website: update.mplab.lv/. Access to all online events: https://ej.uz/update22. Get in touch: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430). As the festival brings together international artists, the festival events are mainly held in English.
UPDATE is organized by ASTE (https://aste.gallery), a collective of media artists based in Liepaja and Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab, https://mplab.lv). ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. UPDATE is created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF), Liepaja University and RIXC. UPDATE events are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food in Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
In the picture: Interactive Installation Duo “Akyute”
The UPDATE festival takes place in a hybrid format – in Liepaja, in Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab, mplab.lv), and online from November 21 until 26. Participation in the festival is free, with prior registration; there is a limited number of in-person participants, and unlimited number of online participants. The events of the festival are mainly held in English. Program and registration on the festival website: update.mplab.lv/.
The festival program is divided into 3 parts:
workshops,
masterclasses,
networking events and discussions.
Why participate?
The festival offers an opportunity to learn technical, practical and conceptual skills in a very short time and for free. The purpose of the festival is to give an opportunity to those interested in art, design and IT, students, and professionals to update their portfolios and CVs with unique, modern knowledge and skills required in the future labour market.
Who can apply?
Anyone interested, regardless of previous knowledge or education, who has the motivation to delve into digital tools, hardware, and software, is invited to apply. Participation in the festival is free. Participants can join the festival in person in Liepaja or online. Participants should note that international guests and experts are participating in the festival, so the festival will be held in English.
Highlights of the program
Participants can apply to any of 8 workshops, each of which offers a different approach and focus on a specific technology, media, or digital process. Workshops are offered on such topics as artificial intelligence and generative visual performances (SuperCollider, cables.gl), 360-degree video, prototyping and automation (Raspberry Pi), binaural audio, and experimental photography. The program also includes 2 conceptual creative workshops which explore the heritage, present and future of Liepaja.
Workshops take place from Monday to Thursday, from 11AM to 15PM (local time in Liepaja).
A special workshop on climate change and ecology will be held all day on Friday; in this workshop, participants, will create conceptual, social, and political ideas and plans, looking at both local and international contexts; participants will work together with bio-artists and environmental researchers and activists.
Within the framework of the festival, 4 masterclasses will be held on such topics as: interactive performances (TouchDesigner), use of artificial intelligence in art, Raspberry Pi camera, bio arts and experimental methods in research.
Masterclasses take place from Monday to Thursday, every day from 5 PM to 7 PM (local time in Liepaja). Each masterclass takes place for one to two evenings.
During the week there will be meetings and discussions of the digital and media artist community on various topics. On Thursday from 2 PM (local time in Liepaja), there will be a networking event where the participants will promote their activities and opportunities offered to the public and the community. On Saturday, as part of the opening of the festival exhibition, there will be presentations of the results of workshops and masterclasses, creative workshops for families with children and discussions on globally relevant topics such as technologies in the garden and food growing, permaculture, resource use and sustainability. If you have something you want to share, present, or promote, don’t hesitate to get in touch and join the events.
Additional information, full program and descriptions of workshops and master classes available on the website: update.mplab.lv/.
Get in touch: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, 29948430).
UPDATE is organized by ASTE, a collective of media artists based in Liepaja and Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab). ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. UPDATE is created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF), Liepaja University and RIXC. UPDATE events are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food in Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Liepājas Universtātes Humanitāro un mākslas zinātņu fakultātes galerijā Kūrmājas prospektā 13, 2. stāvā līdz 17. novembrim darba dienās no pl. 10.00 – 18.00 bez maksas ir aplūkojama jauno mediju mākslas instalācija “Brūnā lagūna”, kas veidota, iedvesmojoties no Liepājas ezera – lagūnas tipa ezera – ainavas un ekosistēmas. Izmantojot mikroskopa video ierakstus, datu sonifikāciju un dabas materiālus, kā arī no atrasto materiālu veidotiem papīriem un grafikas darbiem, jaunie mākslinieki atklāja dažādu sugu attiecības, kas veido Liepājas ezera ekosistēmu, reflektējot arī par cilvēka lomu tajā.
In the gallery on the 2nd floor of Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Liepaja University (Liepaja, Kurmajas pr. 13, Mondays – Saturdays every day from 10AM until 6PM) visitors are invited to explore the installation “Brown Lagoon” created during an experimental workshop exploring the ecosystem of Liepaja lake using microscope video recordings, data sonification and found objects, as well as papers and graphic works made from found materials. The workshop participants also reflected on the human role in the ecosystem.
Most materials used in the installation were obtained from Zirgu sala, an area next to the Liepaja lake that served as and official and later unofficial waste dump. Only recently Zirgu sala has been developed into a recreational area, Liepaja ZIIC Dabas maja (Nature House) is also located in this area.
The installation was created as a result of a creative workshop within the framework of ASTE project “Ekonauti II” in cooperation with the music and creativity festival MTF Labs, organized by Aveiro, a candidate city for the European Capital of Culture in Portuga and Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab). During the workshop, young artists were invited to explore the proposed topic “Ecosystem Living”. Workshop participants visited the paper recycling laboratory of Liepaja University and learned how to use agar and fibers obtained from Liepaja algae in the production of paper sheets. Workshop participants also listened to a lecture by Sniedze Vise, Liepaja ZIIC Nature House representative, on the Liepaja ecosystems and the goods and services an ecosystem can provide to humans, and also learned how to perform a microscopic analysis of water samples from Liepaja Lake in order to see what natural diversity is hidden in the underwater world.
Artists: Kristofers Antāns, Olga Barbina, Elizabete Blūma, Lelde Gūtmane, Kristers Krūms, Madara Zavadska, Renārs Zvirgzdiņš; workshop mentors, new media artists and project managers: Anna Priedola un Paula Vitola.
Project “Ekonauti II” is supported by State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF).
ASTE activities in 2022. is supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s.
The exhibition “Mindful explorations” presents practice-led artistic research done by Maija Demitere, Paula Vītola, Krista Dintere, Marta Gūtmane, Anna Priedola and Gustavs Lociks. Maija Demitere and Paula Vītola are presenting long-term projects developed withing the framework of their doctoral research.
With this exhibition ASTE is introducing the Digital Gallery ART+ works in Klaipeda. ART+ is an augmented reality app hat offers location based augmented reality experiences for Android and iOS devices in Liepaja, Kuldīga, and also for a short period in Klaipeda, and in any internet browser for those who do not have a chance or suitable device to visit the locations. Visit to download the app and learn more – https://artplus.app/.
The exhibition is organised by ASTE and Liepaja University Art Research Laboratory MPLab in collaboration with Klaipeda Culture Communication Center KCCC.
The exhibition and ART+ objects are created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) and Liepaja University.
ASTE events and ART+ objects are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food In Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European.
Exhibition opening photos by KKKC, Maija Demitere and Raivo Mihailovs.
Photo by Maija Demitere
(2 weeks into the exhibition. Progress from Sep 28, 2022) Photo by Maija Demitere
A new augmented reality art object has been added to ART+ app, which captures an important shift in the development of Liepaja – the creation of the Libau–Romny railway line. The new object is a life-size model of the historical train and it can be viewed in the garden of the Liepaja Museum using the ART+ app (available for free for Android and iOS. Links to the app on the website – www.artplus.app).
Liepaja has may different faces, directions of development, departments, stakeholders, each deciding that their field of work is most important. Every resident of Liepaja is affected by almost all of these fields – home or work next to one of port terminals, education, culture and art, the beach, parks, public transport. We are currently living in an “interesting” time, where being so divided is even dangerous. Liepaja artists’ association ASTE wants to highlight various moments of Liepaja’s development and history a- other interesting moments –, which we think everyone living in Liepaja should know and will allow visitors of our city to better understand why Liepaja is the way it is. The 3D model of the train commemorating the development of the railway in Liepaja is the first of many planned augmented reality objects about the history of Liepaja.
Why is the train important?
The train and bus station, designed by architect Paul Max Bertschy, was built in 1871 for the Libau–Romny railway line. The building was built on an open, sandy site; over time, the city moved closer to the station and factories and two-story wooden houses began to be built around it. People from all over the Russian Empire came to Liepaja and settled in the houses of emigrants, others were waiting for ships to leave for America, others were building fortifications around the city. Around half a million emigrants left through Liepaja from 1906 to 1914. Thanks to the newly built railway line, the city experienced rapid growth – trade turnover in the port increased several times, new industrial companies were formed by attracting foreign investments, the Liepaja resort experienced its heyday. If in 1861, 10 thousand inhabitants lived in the city, then in 1914, around 100 thousand people lived in Liepaja (for your interest, a little more than 67 thousand people live in Liepaja at the moment).
How to view work in augmented reality?
The viewer will need a smartphone or a tablet (with GPS and internet connection). It should be mentioned that the application is about 300 MB in size, so we recommend downloading it using WIFI; however when running the app that is already on the device, it will still need an internet connection, but the amount of downloaded data will be small.
The viewer needs to go to the app store and download ART+. If you already have ART+ on your device, you need to go to the app store and update it.
A virtual object, such as the 3D model of the train, is located at a specific location shown on the map. The viewer must find this place in the garden of the Liepaja Museum and step onto the point, then he will be given the opportunity to press the button “View the artwork”. At this point, the object is placed on top or next to the viewer, and they can start their experience – walk around or enter the train (step inside the object), step back to see the object as a whole, or go closer to look at textures.
If something seems to have gone wrong, if the object does not look as it should, restart the app.
ART+ was created in 2021 with the support of the VKKF program KulturElpa.
In 2022, ART+ objects are being created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) and Liepaja University. ART+ objects are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food In Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. The 3D train model was created in cooperation with Liepaja Muzeum.
The exhibition “Railway enters Liepaja (1871 – 1940)” can be viewed at the Liepaja Museum (Kurmajas pr. 16/18) until November 6, but the virtual 3D train model train can be viewed in the museum’s garden until the end of the year. After that, the train will be moved to it’s permanent location next to the Liepaja bus and train station.
Working hours of the museum: Wednesday – Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday, Tuesday – closed.
ASTE receives support in the New European Bauhaus Citizen Engagement project competition, in which until the end of November, ASTE will research gardening traditions in Liepaja, organize discussions and workshops, create and exhibit new works of art in the augmented reality gallery ART+.
Art Research Laboratory (MPLab) of the Liepaja University, Kūrmājas pr. 13 (the basement)
When?
From July 9 to 23 Weekdays from 14:00 – 19:00 Holidays from 12:00 – 19:00
What?
Video works and installations on various topics regarding the environment and nature. At the exhibition, you can learn the mathematics of lichens, get to know machines that help you get into the skin of other species, a book that can be “read” by smell and touch, and others. Estimated time for the exhibition visit: 30 – 50 minutes.
Artists: Aiste Ambrazevičūte (Aistė Ambrazevičiūtė, LT), Olga Barbina, Krista Dintere, Teuns Karelse (Theun Karelse, NL), Anna Priedola, Paula Vītola, and others.
As part of the Liepaja Sea Festival, the opening of the media art exhibition “Ekonauti” and free workshops for families and children will take place on Liepāja beach and Jūrmala Park. The program also includes performances at the pop-up bar Red Monkey.
ECONAUTS EXPEDITION July 9. Starts at 12:15 and 16:00 Liepāja seaside park (gathering near the stage, next to the “Daugava” stadium)
Families with children are invited to join the Econauts expedition in the seaside nature of Liepāja – participants will be getting to know the diversity of species living there and the symbiotic relationship that exists between them. Participants will be able to learn the ‘grammar of lichens’ and the silent language of nature, which can tell many interesting and useful things, for example, what is the air quality in our surroundings. At the end of the workshop, the lessons learned will be visualized in large-scale drawings.
The expeditions will be led by the Lithuanian artist Aiste Ambrazevičiūtės, whose creative activity is a mixture of architecture, sculpture, digital art, biology and technology. She finds the diversity of nature in terms of materials, shapes and different scales particularly inspiring, so she constantly searches for mutual relationships between nature-based elements, not only imitating visual forms, but also the wisdom hidden in them.
The expedition will be held in English.
ECONAUTS LABORATORY July 9. at 12:00 – 17:00 Liepāja beach near the lifeguard station
In the Econauts laboratory, visitors will have the opportunity to try out various microphones and sensors for themselves in order to hear sunlight, shadows, underwater sounds and other natural processes that cannot be perceived by our senses. You can join the laboratory at any time during the specified time period, the workshop time for each participant is about 20 min.
Workshop hosts: Diana Lelis, Ieva Matveja, Paula Vītola, Krista Dintere.
The laboratory hosts are able to communicate in both Latvian and English.
“ECONAUTS” EXHIBITION In the Art Research Laboratory (MPLab) of the Liepaja University, Kūrmājas pr. 13 (basement)
The exhibition can be viewed at Liepāja University’s Art Research Laboratory (MPLab), Kūrmājas pr. 13 in the basement. Entrance is free.
Opening hours: 14:00 – 19:00 (weekdays) and 12:00 – 19:00 (holidays) from July 9 to 23. Opening on July 8 pl. 18:00. At the opening, we invite you to join the discussion about the positive and negative effects of technology on the perception of nature with the participation of the international artists of the exhibition.
At the exhibition, you will be able to get to know Econaut’s previous expeditions in the underwater world, in the forest and on sandy beaches, as well as the equipment used in them. At the exhibition, you will be able to learn the mathematics of lichens, get to know machines that help you get into the skin of other species, a book that can be ‘read’ by smell and touch, etc. jobs.
Exhibition artists: Aistė Ambrazevičiūtė (LT), Olga Barbina, Krista Dintere, Theun Karelse (NL), Anna Priedola, Paula Vītola, etc.
The pop-up bar Red Monkey will host experimental audiovisual performances. Featuring: DIEVA and Waterflower.
DIEVA
When studying the interaction between man and nature in the current era, the separation of the two has been established; ‘I in nature and nature in me’ – the awareness of presence is the freedom of sound and language – an inexhaustible source of knowledge and inspiration – a resource that promotes creativity in reflection on time and era, which is recorded by (meta)language – audial environmental poetry.
DIEVA is an audiovisual collaboration between multimedia and text artist Diana Lelis and musician-composer Ieva Vītoliņa.
WATERFLOWER
Waterflower is the alter-ego of multimedia artist Sabine Moore. Challenging the viewer-listener and exploring femininity in electronic music, Waterflower creates a unique, conceptual avant-pop that is equally likely to be exhibited in an art gallery or discovered in an underground club. Waterflower uses real plants both as pianos (connected to synthesizers) and as midi generators – transforming plant biodata into music.
