Introduction｜
For the past two years, the Taiwanese artist collective TTC Studios and the British art group Blast Theory have been working on a new collaborative piece. Blast Theory artist Matt Adams will be visiting Taiwan in August to co-produce the new work. TTC Studios, in partnership with C-LAB Contemporary Art Platform, is using this chance to invite Matt Adams to give an artist talk about Blast Theory's artistic processes.
Matt Adams will give an introduction to Blast Theory’s practice using a selection of video excerpts. He will present Cat Royale, a utopia where cats live in harmony with artificial intelligence, describing the key collaborations with researchers in Computer Science, Animal Behaviour and Animal Computer Interaction.
And he will present Spit Spreads Death, a parade to commemorate those who lost their lives in Philadelphia's 1918 flu pandemic, commissioned by the Mütter Museum. He will describe the decision to make a parade and the process for recruiting hundreds of participants; the digital platforms developed to allow every participant to choose someone who died in 1918 to honour; and the sculptural and choreographic elements of the parade itself.
In his two works, Matt aims to offer the Taiwanese audience a broader perspective on how Blast Theory harnesses various media, including theater, gaming, interaction, and technology, to create their artistic endeavors. He explores how the group has consistently evolved through international co-productions and collaborative research initiatives.
About Matt Adams｜
Matt Adams co-founded Blast Theory in 1991, an artists’ group making interactive work. Blast Theory is renowned for its multidisciplinary approach using new technologies in theatre, games and visual art. The group has collaborated with scientists at the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham since 1997.
Blast Theory has shown Ulrike and Eamon Compliant at the Venice Biennale, A Machine To See With at Sundance Film Festival and Can You See Me Now? at Tate Britain. Commissioners include Channel 4, National Theatre Wales and the Royal Opera House. Awards include the Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica, the Nam June Paik Art Center Award and four BAFTA nominations.
Matt has curated at Tate Modern and at the ICA in London and has taught widely. He has lectured at Stanford University, the Royal College of Art and the Sorbonne. He is a winner of the Maverick Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards. He was a Thinker In Residence for the South Australian Government and was an inaugural Artist In Residence at the World Health Organization in Geneva in 2018. Matt served on the South East Regional Council of Arts Council England from 2012 to 2019. He was the Visiting Professor in Interactive Media at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama from 2007 to 2014.
About Blast Theory｜
Blast Theory make interactive art to explore social and political questions. Placing the public into unusual and, at times, unsettling experiences, the artists create new perspectives and the possibility of change.Led by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, the group make performances, games, films, apps and installations.The group has shown work at the Venice Biennale, Tribeca Film Festival, ICC in Tokyo, Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin, the Barbican and Tate Britain. Commissioners include Channel 4, Sundance Film Festival and the Royal Opera House. The artists work closely with researchers and scientists and have collaborated with the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham since 1997, co-authoring over 45 research papers. The artists teach and lecture internationally including at the Sorbonne, Stanford University and the Royal College of Art. They curated the Screen series for Live Culture at Tate Modern. Blast Theory has been nominated for four BAFTAs and has won the Golden Nica at Prix Ars Electronica and the Nam June Paik Art Center Award.
Founded in 1991, Blast Theory is based in Brighton in the UK.
Information｜
Date｜2024/08/11(Sun.)
Time｜14:30-16:00
Location｜ C-lab Grey Box
Speaker｜Matt Adams（Artist）
Host｜Ting-Tong Chang（Artist）
Organizer｜TTC Studios
Co-Organizer｜C-lab Contemporary Art Platform
＊The lecture will be conducted entirely in English.