[spectre] Open 21 - (Im)Mobility, Exploring the Boundaries of Hypermobility - Theme Issue Journal for Art and the Public Domain

[Eric Kluitenberg]

A  N  N  O  U  N  C  E  M  E  N  T

Tuesday evening May 24 we presented the theme issue (im)Mobility of Open, Journal for Art and the Public Domain at the Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam, in combination with a screening of The Forgotten Space, the film by Allan Sekula and Noël Burch (www.skor.nl/artefact-5492-en.html).

Below more information on the issue.

- eric

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Open 21

(Im)Mobility

Exploring the Boundaries of Hypermobility


Increasing densities of communications technologies seem to lead to  an increase in physical and motorised mobility, rather than their replacement or reduction. At the same time, these accelerating flows of data and commodities stand in sharp contrast to the elbow room afforded to the biological body, which in fact is forced to a standstill. And while data, goods and capital have been freed of their territorial restrictions, the opposite is true for a growing proportion of the world's population: border regimes, surveillance and identity control are being intensified at a rapid pace. In short, we are seeing both an uncurbed and uncontrolled increase of mobility and segregating filtrations. This issue of Open explores the internal contradictions of prevailing im/mobility regimes and their effects on social and physical space.

Contents:

Media theorist Eric Kluitenberg, guest editor of this issue, charts the many mobility regimes in search of a perspective for intervention.

Philosopher Marc Schuilenburg argues for connectivity with the local, introducing the concept of 'terroir'.

Cultural critic Brian Holmes analyses the capitalist mobility system: container transport and just-in-time production.

Film stills from the documentary Forgotten Space by Allan Sekula and Noël Burch portray the relation between oceanic shipping lanes and the globalised economy.

Architectural historian Wim Nijenhuis wonders what exile means in today's 'exit city'.

Architect Charlotte Lebbe investigates the external borders of the Schengen Area and sees the rise of a new 'dispositif' surveillance: the Ban-Opticum.

Sociologist Merijn Oudenampsen and architect Miguel Robles-Durán interview David Harvey on the spatial effects of capital accumulation.

Media theorist Joss Hands writes about the mobilising capacity of social media in recent events in the Middle East.

Media artist and researcher Florian Schneider introduces the concept of 'transnationality' in order to tackle the ambivalence of current border regimes.

Design critic John Thackara argues for a change in the thinking on mobility.

Media theorist Tatiana Goryucheva asks where the democratisaton of technological design begins, investigating the case  of food traceability technology.

Design studio Metahaven drafts a speculative future for 'mobile money', and  architect Nerea Calvillo discusses the visual urban interfaces charting air pollution developed for the In the Air project in Madrid.

www.skor.nl/artefact-5491-en.html

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Open is an initiative of SKOR | Foundation for Art and Public Domain and is published by NAI Publishers.

Jorinde Seijdel and Liesbeth Melis (eds.) 
Eric Kluitenberg (guest editor)
Open 21
(Im)mobility
Exploring the Limits of Hypermobility
Design: Thomas Buxó and Klaartje van Eijk, Paperback, Illustrated (colour and b/w), 176 pages, 17 x 24 cm
English edition, ISBN 978-90-5662-814-7, € 23.50
Dutch edition, ISBN 978-90-5662-813-0
May 2011

www.naipublishers.com/art/open21_e.html