[spectre] Makrolab@Venice

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Date: Wed, 14 May 2003 15:48:50 +1000
From: "geert lovink" <geert at xs4all.nl>
Subject: <nettime> Makrolab at Venice

Press Release

MAKROLAB

During the 50th Venice Biennale Aurora Fonda's activity as Director of the
Cultural Centre of Slovenia continues in its unusual way by offering
an autonomous space of communication and research as well as a habitation
unit capable of supporting the concentrated work of eight persons in
isolation/insulation for up to 120 days. A real laboratory, Makrolab is
equipped to hold artists, scientists and strategic operators of the media
world, who are supplied with instruments and means for a common progressive
independent work that develops wide-ranging research in the field of
telecommunications, climate and migration. The location where the initiative
is based is also unusual: Campalto Island in the Venetian lagoon.

>From the beginning of June through to the end of September, it will be
possible to visit the Makrolab laboratory in full swing, thanks to a ferry
service that goes to the island from the Biennale site of the Giardini. This
service makes it possible for all those interested to take part directly in
the research activities and experiments and, naturally, the results that
emerge.

Makrolab, started in 1994 by Marko Peljhan, and realised for the first time
as part of Documenta X at Kassel in 1997, draws on the collaboration of
people from many different studies and disciplines. It is expected to end in
2007, when the structure will be placed permanently in the Antarctic.  From
then on Makrolab will be managed by a  trans-national foundation. The
project has already been a feature at Venice, in June 1999 at the Querini
Stampalia Foundation and, in February 2001, at the Peggy Guggenheim
Foundation as part of the Guggenheim public project.

In its three themes (telecommunications, migration and climatic systems)
Makrolab has identified a real resource to understand how our planet works
on a social, technological and natural level, and how it develops through
methods and systems of art, where it finds the notion of liberty, and of
science which offer the possibility to progress and reflect.

It should be stressed that Makrolab is a social experiment and is run by the
non-profit association of Slovenian artists Zavod Projekt Atol. The project
is financed by governments, international organisations and societies, and
by individuals. After Venice it will be installed in Israel, South Africa,
Nunavut Territory in Canada, Japan, Russia and finally the Antarctic (2007)
where it will be used as a permanent and independent artistic-scientific
station for research in the areas of primary interest to the project.

Makrolab is equipped with systems which allow the most comfortable working
conditions, despite limitations in space. It has five sections: the working
section, kitchen, storage area, rest area and hygiene area. It draws its
energy from wind and sun and possesses a system of filters to obtain and
recycle drinking water; what's more, it's capable of recycling most of its
waste and has a small hydroponic vegetable garden. In the near future
perma-cultivations will be installed, which should supplement the
nutritional necessities of the team. For extreme conditions the laboratory
also has a system to control the internal atmosphere.

Makrolab operates an equal opportunities policy and is open to anyone. The
present team can be contacted with proposals, suggestions etc., on
makrolab at libero.it The majority of results are available to the public on
the Internet or other research engines.

Makrolab is part of the 50th International Biennale of Art in collaboration
with the Comune di Venezia, Assessorato alle Politiche Sociali, Regione
Veneto, Interreg III Phare CBS Italia/Slovenia, The Slovenian Ministry of
Culture, The City of Ljubljana, Mobitel d.d. Ljubljana, The City of Nova
Gorica and the rx:tx Foundation, and the University of California at Santa
Barbara (UCSB).

Press Office

Roberta Lombardo Hurstel
8bis, rue de l'Argonne - 75019 Paris
tel. +33 1 53 26 04 26 - fax  +33 1 53 30 00 26
Castello, 5064/b - 30122 Venezia
tel. +39 041 52 87 721 - mob. +33 6 10 56 42 51
email: hurstel.roberta at wanadoo.fr