The continuum between digital and physical domains is a key issue today. Contemporary art registers this fact—with much new work exploring the interface between computation and the ‘real’ world. But tech is often hidden, or encrypted. As a result, commentaries on the interface appear defined by speculation, if not suspicion. Poetics of Encryption explores this phenomenon and is dedicated to the hidden dimensions of our technological landscape.
KW sits at the intersection of virtual and material domains, and the creative use of emerging technologies. Exploring, criticizing, or reinventing this space through art is a key issue for the KW Digital Program. Launched in 2020, KW Digital plays out across various platforms—rather than being proprietary to any particular device or location. It is curated by Nadim Samman, Curator for the Digital Sphere at KW. Previous projects include The Last Museum (2021) Open Secret (2021) and KW on location: Rachel Rossin THE MAW OF (2022).
The publication Poetics of Encryption: Art and the Technocene by Samman supplies a critical framework for the KW Digital Program 2023–2024. It explores a cultural landscape marked by Black Sites, Black Boxes, and Black Holes. These terms indicate how emerging tech captures users; how it works in stealth; and how it distorts cultural space-time.
Poetics of Encryption is launched with a website and visual identity, debuting three new online commissions. These are by Most Dismal Swamp, UBERMORGEN and Zheng Mahler. The website will be continuously updated with info, documentation, and other media throughout the program. Access via poeticsofencryption.kw-berlin.de
On 27–28 October, a conference at the historic Theater im Delphi will bring together artists and eminent media theorists. In this silent movie hall, lectures, performances, and screenings will explore the dark side of tech—covering topics ranging from race and algorithmic governance, to hallucination, Artificial Intelligence, and art. Participants include: Ramon Amaro, Orit Halpern, Nora N. Khan, Andrea Khôra, Most Dismal Swamp, Özgün Eylül İşcen, Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan, Trevor Paglen, Jon Rafman, Lorem and Ala Roushan, amongst others. Additionally, the theater hosts an eighteen-channel listening station by Flipping the Coin, a Berlin based dub-plate label for artist music. Tickets can be purchased online.
Video Still, BOLUS 2022. Courtesy: The artist.
The program culminates in a group exhibition across the three floors of KW in spring 2024, elaborating imaginaries of the Black Site, Black Hole and Black Box, within an architectural scheme by Jürgen Mayer H. spanning analogue and digital media, this exhibition will unfold a poetic of encryption through historic and newly commissioned works by more than thirty international artists, amongst others: American Artist, Emile Brout & Maxime Marion, Emmanuel Van der Auwera, Gillian Brett, Juliana Cerqueira Leite, Julian Charrière, Joshua Citarella, Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler, Clusterduck, Simon Denny, Most Dismal Swamp, ênore, Tilman Hornig, Andrea Khôra, Jonna Kina, Egor Kraft, Eva & Franco Mattes, Carsten Nicolai, Jon Rafman, Charles Stankievech, Troika, Ubermorgen Nico Vascellari, Zheng Mahler.
The KW Digital Program in 2023–2024 is supported by Volkswagen Group.
“We support the KW Digital Program as digital technologies open up new perspectives for the industry as much as they do for culture and the arts. The Digital Conference hosted by the KW Institute for Contemporary Art is a great place to engage with new creative ideas and an important platform to drive the dialogue between many minds.”
Hauke Stars, member of the Board for IT and Organization of Volkswagen AG:
“The digital realm is increasingly intertwined with our analog world. Exploring points of connection between virtual and physical space through art is in the public interest. Our KW Digital Program 2023–2024 aims to foster new perspectives on this situation, showcasing artists whose work explores the impact of technology on our collective imagination. We seek to further inspire discussions and reflections and to learn from each other and to continue shaping our digitized future together.”
Nadim Samman, Curator Digital Sphere at KW, about the project: