Outlook 2017 — an overview of the most interesting conferences happening in the first half of the year
I was searching online when I came across the highlight of a creativity conference in Dublin that summons, among several other artists, the graphic designer and French photographer Jean Paul Goude, creator of one of the most incredible album covers ever: Island Life (1985) by Grace Jones — Goude’s companion and muse at the time — in a totally graceful pose on a blue background, an almost perfect synthesis of the idea of a world designed to make us feel the plasticity and the space of our own dreams.
While reviewing this cover, I remembered that Kanye West was also recently inspired by Grace Jones in the FADE video, with Teyana Taylor bringing back the powerful aura of the black woman with strong sexual appeal and a fierce gleam in her eyes. Nonetheless, the current echo of hurricane Jones is also extended to the stage as the singer, actress, model, eternal androgynous diva and Bond Girl is one of the highlights of the Primavera Sound Barcelona festival line-up, which crosses contemporary bands with musical icons.
We live in a world of intersections, with some anxiety but with optimism as well. A world where we are amazed by the countless possibilities that we have and also where we’re able to reach more easily the past fragments that re-frame options, trends. Where different times co-exist. It’s this world that we wish to explore and unravel, to broaden both references and perspectives, and to join ideas and points of view. Just as Goude did, who wrapped with the unique artistic vision of his muse, decided to link several images of Grace Jones into a photo that it’s hard to forget.
That’s why we love creativity conferences. They’re a way to step out of our comfort zone and to be in contact with other ways of seeing the world. In a short time we have the opportunity to cross the input of several artists from different areas, who by sharing with us their opinions and points of view, inspire us to do better, to make things differently.
Rita Moreira, Editorial Coordinator at Canal180
Those are Canal180 choices for the first semester of 2017:
Offfset
Dublin, Ireland
Dates: 17th — 19th February
Tickets: 165€-195€ (students: 115€-145€)
It was in the eclectic line-up of this festival that we found and remembered not only the amazing work of Jean Paul Gaude, but also other artists related mainly to design but also to typography, illustration or directing as our friend Kirsten Lepore, director and animator, (she was already with us at 180 Creative Camp) and who will share lots of magic and sense of humour.
This festival brings together about 2,500 people each year and distinguishes itself by gathering artists established in the creative universe with local and emerging creators.
We are committed to a multi-discipline approach in curating, inviting the most interesting and exciting artists in Graphic Design, Photography, Animation, Illustration, Fashion, Film, Industrial Design and Art.
(…) Our speakers are key disruptors and influencers in their field driving everything from huge global campaigns to awe inspiring personal projects.
Elevate
Graz, Austria
Dates: 1st — 5th March
Tickets: €55
We found this festival dedicated to music, art but also to political discourse really interesting. Together with exciting speakers, it sheds light on some of the latest social, political and technological developments and presents inspiring projects and initiatives.
In the music program, among the first confirmed acts is the founder of Metroplex and the “Godfather of Detroit Techno” Juan Atkins. With her album “Blood Bitch”, released in 2016, the Norwegian singer Jenny Hval has stepped into every top list of 2016. In March, she will deliver one of her unmistakable avant-garde performances in Graz. Lorenzo Senni, who has just celebrated his Warp Records debut will also be performing his new live show at Elevate.
This is just a small part of the program.
The discourse and activism program is related to the use of technology in the 21st century and the debate has a theme: “Big Data, Quantification & Algorithms — Who makes decisions in the 21st century?”
Through the development of the digital environment, now part of our daily reality, human behaviour is often influenced and controlled without notice. Which decisions should we as a society or even as humanity at large delegate to algorithms?
Resonate
Belgrade, Serbia
Dates: 19th — 22nd April
Tickets: 169€, Conference ticket: 99€
Resonate is celebrating its 6th edition this year and continues to explore artists’ relationship with technology in order to generate new cultural narratives beyond mainstream media.
The line-up of this festival is always a good surprise and big names from the European art underground and rebel thinkers are invited for a program of four day of lectures, workshops, panel discussions, screenings and live performances as well as four nights of live shows and music performances.
Resonate provides an overview of current affairs in music, visual arts and digital culture. Guest artists, lectures and other participants are chosen to represent the cutting edge of the contemporary creative industry in the world.
Resonate is a platform for networking, knowledge sharing and education. It brings together artists, designers and educators to participate in a forward-looking debate on the role of technology in art and culture.
Element Talks
Warsaw, Poland
Dates: 22nd & 23rd April
Tickets: €50 — €80
Element talks are a great chance to make new business relations, friendships or to exchange experiences. With Speed Dates or Discussion Tables you can meet other designers and speakers. Perfect environment for networking.
Element Talks tames monsters like finances, negotiations or copyright. The speakers share their successes and failures, show the backstage of the designer’s profession, how they work, how they cooperate and how they stay designers without loosing their souls.
IAM Internet
Barcelona, Spain
Dates: 27th — 30th April
Tickets: 420€, 199€ for freelancers & startups
http://www.internetagemedia.com/
We were present last year and it was awesome as it gave us amazing insights on digital culture (and friendship!) Soon we will show you some content we’ve produced together. 😎
Internet Age Media is a platform “that connects the future of media, learning and the arts, cultivating the randomness of internet cultures” (…) “because In Randomness we trust” (read the manifesto here).
With a forward approach on digital culture, this three-day conference in Barcelona is a breath of fresh air overview on diverse topics such as the future of work, advertising and politics, and curates speakers like Bruce Sterling and Jasmina Tesanovic. **
This year’s edition is centered on the theme “The Renaissance of Utopias”, inspired by the 500th anniversary of Thomas More’s “Utopia” and in a time where utopias emerge as a useful and provocative tool to invent a better future in the internet age.
What if we used utopias as a verb?
For IAM Weekend 17 we will dive deeper into the meaning of utopias, with imagination and skepticism, understanding how they can evolve beyond contemporary dreams and help us navigate the uncertainty of our times.
** Please check the IAM tribute to Zygmunt Bauman, that passed away recently and was one of the speakers of this years edition.
Pictoplasma Conference & Festival
Berlin, Germany
Dates: 10th — 14th May
Tickets: 290€ (regular pass) — 490€ (Picto Suppport Pass)
https://conference.pictoplasma.com/
If you wish to know the face of tomorrow’s visual culture, you must go to Pictoplasma. The unconventional conference and festival transforms Berlin in an international meeting point for artists and creatives, and showcases latest trends in fine and urban arts, illustration, animation film and graphic design.
While international creators and producers meet for a central conference to exchange strategies for tomorrow’s figurative representation, the wider festival showcases latest trends in character design and art, cutting edge screenings bring the latest animation eye-candy to the big screen at Babylon, and numerous exhibitions throughout the city invite you to experience original works and outstanding character craftsmanship.
Sónar+D
Barcelona, Spain
Dates: 14th — 17th June
Tickets: 230€ (Delegate Pass Sónar+D & Sónar)
Sónar+D is the international conference organized by Sónar in Barcelona. Highlights the relationship between creativity and technology, and the digital transformation of the cultural industries involved. Parallel to Sónar by Day, you can meet experts from around the world with ideas and works that will shape future creative experiences in music, visuals, interactive content and transmedia platforms.
The conference facilitates the exchange of knowledge, debate, exhibiting talent, and generating business opportunities.
