Thanks to the Creative European project Biofriction, Hangar and Cultivamos Cultura started a new partnership. As part of the project, Cultivamos Cultura and Hangar, in July 2021 organized the 4th of SummerLab 2021, entitled Elements of Care.
Nowadays, the intersection of Art, Biology and Environment offer a great opportunity to visual artists. For this reason, the main focus of the Summer School is to investigate the interdisciplinary relationship between art, life and environmental sciences through hands-on exercises, combining theory and practice in an informal environment. Also, the Summer School explores addressed several important issues such as the cultural representations of technology and science, ethical concerns and the evolution of bioart as a cultural phenomenon.
The Lab’s primary goal is to allow the audience to acquire theoretical and practical skills in biological and environmental sciences in connection to the visual arts. In addition, the Summer Lab aims to facilitate dialogue between different areas of knowledge/practice and social contexts, diluting the distance that often occurs between artists, curators, scientists, researchers and social agents.
During the week, the Summer School hosts several kinds of activities, such as seminars, debates, visits, and the creation of artworks with biological media. Through these theoretical and practical tools, the Lab investigates the interdisciplinary relationship between art, life, and environmental sciences.
Moreover, the course will explore the writing of Donna Haraway, Karen Barad, Heather Davis a.o., as well as the art of Mary Magic, Špela Petrič, Saša Spačal and others, propose new artistic approaches related to these issues. (Regine Rapp and Christian de Lutz)
Finally, the course leaves plenty of room for informal activities and a cultural and social program.
All the activities of the SummerLab received support from Europa Creativa and are part of the Biofriction European project.
Faculty:
Marta de Menezes, artist, curator, art director of Cultivamos Cultura
Luis Graca, MD, PhD, Head of Cellular Immunology Unit and Professor at the University of Lisbon Medical School.
Regine Rapp; Art Laboratory Berlin.
Christian de Lutz; Art Laboratory Berlin.
Ana Baleia, São Luis, Odemira, PT
Maya Kempe, São Luis, Odemira, PT
Crystal Kershaw, São Luis, Odemira, PT