Fieldnote #20 In which we start planning the new season of Idea Factory

We at Studio61 are starting to plan an exhibition looking at the relationship between art and the energy system.

In this field note I will briefly discuss two cultural artefacts that will shape our approach, and also start to think about how we might use a weekly ‘marketplace’ event to start building momentum.

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The film Koyaanisqatsi has shaped my imagination over the years. It had developed a cult following owing to its experimental approach to art.

Produced in 1982, it consists of mesmerising footage of urban and natural landscapes, filmed using slow-motion and time lapse.

They are meditations. There is no dialogue; the imagery and musical score speak for themselves.

Mountains, clouds and temples are contrast with factory processes, motorway rush hours and the demolition of buildings. Throughout the film, punctuating it, are lingering video portraits of people; their faces staring into the camera. Staring at us; compelling reflection.

This film, along with its sequels Powaqqatsi (1988) and Naqoyqatsi (2002), and the more recent film Samsara (2011) provide us with clues and techniques for investigating the relationship between art and the energy sector.

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My memory of Koyaanisqatsi was provoked by flicking through the book How Infrastructure Works by the engineer Deb Chachra, our second artefact.

It has a chapter entitled ‘Co-Operation on a Global Scale’ that considers how ‘standards’ (such as the design of shipping containers, USB plugs, or the dimensions of printing paper) facilitate interoperability between complex systems.

We can grasp this scale by reflecting that the International Standards Organisation, a non-profit oversight body, has defined more than 20,000 standards.

Chacra introduces the idea of the ‘systemic sublime’ — the feeling of awe you get when you consider the layers of complex systems that sit behind everyday activities like turning on a light or following GPS.

Much like Koyaanisqatsi, the systemic sublime helps us move beyond using outdated analytical tools and project management processes to understand big, entangled infrastructures.

They help us move beyond explaining things through simple cause and effect.

Instead they invite us to consider the importance of paying long careful observation and attention to our daily lives.

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Building upon our past successes, notably the Idea Factory Radio initiative in Brixton, Studio61 is poised to embark on the next phase of community engagement as we prepare for the creative energy exhibition.

The upcoming season will witness the evolution of Idea Factory Radio into an Idea Factory Market, transforming the space into a vibrant marketplace of ideas.

Whereas last season, we invited community leaders to jump on the mic and share their stories and visions; this time we are inviting individuals to help us explore how the idea of a ‘marketplace’ might be played with as a creative community building tool.

So, over the next two Fridays, we are inviting individuals to converge, set up stalls or activities, and participate in collaborative recordings.

We are aiming to channel the creative energy of our local environment towards shaping the narrative of our forthcoming exhibition.