Archipelago

Archipelago: Art and Science Investigations in Times of Unstable Knowledge

Reflecting on the possible entry in the new geological epoch of the Anthropocene, this project proposes a distributed research collaboration between Switzerland, France, and Japan around issues of resilience, circularity, and carbon transition, with a focus on macro- and micro-systems, microbial worlds, and functional and evolutionary ecology. The 20-month Archipelago research program between art and science will kick off in Zurich with a series of public meetings and will organize knowledge-sharing sessions, laboratory visits, research trips, public events, and will culminate with creative retreats in Switzerland and France. A first driver for critical reflection on the entry into the Anthropocene will be to consider the role played by algae and cyanobacteria on our planet, in its past, present and future. A second driver will be to consider the implications of the debate and vote at the International Geological Congress in the summer of 2024 and the choice of the “Great Acceleration” of the 1950s as the start of the Anthropocene epoch. The arts are very accustomed to self-reflection, to questioning the methods used and to the plurality of ways of doing and knowing. This knowledge and practice are becoming increasingly valuable in an age of unstable knowledge.

Events 2024

20.3. - 13.7.24 More-than-Planet Exhibition

https://www.weareaia.ch/de/more-than-planet/

The transdisciplinary exhibition “More -Than – Planet: Visions for a Life in a New Geological Epoch?” addresses the proclamation of the new geological epoch known as the Anthropocene.

Opening on Tuesday, 19th of March 2024 March 20 to July 13, 2024

Curated by Ewen Chardronnet and Martina Huber Assistant Curators: Ana Victoria Bruno and Lea Elina Hofer Advisory board: Ravi Agarwal and Miha Turšič

7.05.-8.05.2024 D A CH Algae Summit

Schon seit mehreren Jahren finden in den D-A-CH-Ländern (Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz) regelmässig Veranstaltungen zur Vernetzung im Algenbereich statt. Seit seinem Entstehen im Jahr 2017 fördert das D-A-CH Algen-Netzwerk diese Vernetzung auch über die Landesgrenzen hinweg. 2021 fand der erste „D-A-CH Algen Summit“ in Wien statt. Der zweite Algen Summit wird im Frühsommer 2024 in Bern durchgeführt. Die gemeinsame Veranstaltung wird aktuelle Entwicklungen in Algenindustrie und -forschung aufzeigen und hat zum Ziel, die Vernetzung und den Erfahrungsaustausch zwischen Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Verwaltung in den DACH-Ländern zu fördern.

Flyer Algen Summit 2024https://www.agroscope.admin.ch/agroscope/fr/home/aktuell/veranstaltungen.exturl.html/aHR0cHM6Ly9hZ3Jvc2NvcGUtZXZlbnRzLmFkbWluZXZlbnRzLm/NoL2ZyL1ZlcmFuc3RhbHR1bmdza2FsZW5kZXIvVmVyYW5zdGFs/dHVuZ3MtRGV0YWlscy42Lmh0bWw_ZWlkPTI3MjM=.html

Roles in the project

Art2M (France)

• General administration and coordination of the activities
• host a creative camp on Batz island, Roscoff France
• provide expertise, communication
• networking and mentoring

Multicellular Marine Models lab – CNRS - Sorbonne Université (France)

• Host lab visit in France at Roscoff Marine Station
• participate in lab(s) visit(s) in Switzerland
• provide expertise
• networking and mentoring
• participate in hybrid events
• participate in the Creative Camp on Batz island

Swiss Mechatronic Art Society (Switzerland)

• Host a creative camp in Switzerland, participate in the creative camp in France
• participate in lab(s) visit(s)
• provide expertise
• communication and mentoring

We Are Awareness In Art (Switzerland)

• Host an exhibition More-than-Planet
• launching event(s) to kick-off the program
• participate in lab(s) visit(s) and creative camp(s)
• provide expertise
• communication and mentoring

Hackteria (Switzerland)

• Participate in lab(s) visit(s) and creative camp(s)
• provide expertise
• communication
• networking and mentoring

Symbiont.Space (Switzerland)

• Participate in lab(s) visit(s) and creative camp(s)
• communication writing articles
• networking and mentoring

Teti Group (Switzerland)

• Participate in event(s)
• provide expertise, communication, networking

ZHAW Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (Switzerland)

• Host lab visit at ZHAW Grüental campus in Wädenswil
• participate in launching event(s) in Switzerland
• lab(s) visit(s) in France and creative camp(s)
• provide expertise, communication, networking and mentoring

Agroscope Microbial food systems - Swiss Confederation’s center of excellence for agricultural research (Switzerland)

• Host lab visit at Agroscope Liebefeld and/or Posieux campus
• participate in launching event(s) in Switzerland
• lab(s) visit(s) in France and creative camp(s)
• provide expertise, communication, networking and mentoring

FHNW critical Medialab, Institute Experimental Design and Media Cultures (Switzerland)

• Participate in launching event(s)
• provide expertise, communication, networking and mentoring

Algaltek (Switzerland)

• Host lab visit ar AgroCo St Aubin Fribourg
• participate in launching event(s) in Switzerland
• provide expertise, communication, networking and mentoring

Co-Fundings, but no direct fundings from ProHelvtia Side (non-eligible) https://prohelvetia.ch/en/whats-on/synergies-selected-projects-2024/

Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (Japan)

• Hosting and facilitating art & science research public events during the 20th anniversary exhibition “Ecology for Empathy: dancing with everything” of the museum

metaPhorest bioart and bioaesthetics platform at Waseda University (Japan)

• Participate in hybrid events, invitation to participate in creative camp(s) in Switzerland and France
• facilitate, communicate, provide expertise and networking in Tokyo

Bioclub Tokyo (Japan)

• Participate in hybrid events, invitation to participate in creative camp(s) in Switzerland and France, facilitate, communicate, provide expertise and networking in Tokyo

Sonda Studio (Japan), Toru Oyama and Partner

• Participate in creative camp(s) in Switzerland and France, facilitate research and provide expertise in Okinawa

Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

• Host, facilitate, communicate
• host events
• provide expertise and networking for expedition(s) involving labs visits and public events in Japan in 2024 and 2025

Swissnex in Japan

• Host exhibition in Japan in 2024 and 2025