The Critters exhibition explores the triangle nature-humans-technology in a playful manner. This expo is teeming with life, be it artificial or natural, or any combination of these creatures.
This expo is supported by and part of the Days and Art and Science and the Night of Discoveries, Sept 14-16 2023 in Leiden, the Netherlands. Additional support is provided by the Society, AI and Life Sciences (SAILS) program at Leiden University.
Header image credit: Zoë Breed
AcRobotics by Daniel Simu
What does an acrobat do without a flyer? The people I like to train with are often on the other side of the world, injured, or otherwise unavailable to be thrown in the air by me. So I replaced them with a robot. This project was co-produced by V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media
Living Light by Zoë Breed
Experience the interactive aesthetics of bioluminescent algae in a living light interface
Chronomicroscopy by Roland van Dierendonck
“Chrono” (Χρόνος): “time” | “Micro” (Mικρός): “small in size or extent” | “Scopy” (Σκοπειν): "viewing, examining, observing" | “Chronomicroscopy”: “observing the motions of small life over time.”
Chronomicroscopy is an audiovisual work in four parts, combining the playful traces of life under the microscope with a soundtrack of developing loops. It encourages the viewer to be attentive and look at the microcosmos and its inhabitants with open eyes, discovering patterns and disruptions in both the visuals as well as the audio.
AvataReal by Danica Mast
Experience virtual creature-like dynamic blobs that nudge passersby to engage with them. These forms performorganic motions, responding to the presence of passersby, facilitating playful interaction.
Blockbots by Joost Mollen
The tale of the Blockbots, couchsurfing robots, and what they tell us about why we bond with artificial creatures.
Proxemics by Max Rentmeester, Adhivira Theodorus, Merel ten Braak
Step into the territory of this species and explore personal space
Static v1.1 by Marise van Noordenne
Static explores the friction between old/new, analog/digital, and human/AI. This simplified version of the installation invites you to play around with its generative properties, revealing its unfiltered interpretation of you.
A flocking herd of filings by Marinus van den Oever, Marise van Noordenne, Thomas de Bruijn
Individuals acting collectively as part of a group, following the majority and not making their own decisions. Herd behaviour. a flocking herd of filings imitates this behaviour by grouping together iron particles and making them move in the same direction by creating a circulating magnetic field.
Dancing Jellyfish by Semma Raadschelders
This e-textiles project explores the relationship between people and clothes. The jellyfish attached to a skirt light up in response to movement, inviting the wearer to join their dance.
Location
P.J Veth building, Nonnensteeg 1-3, Leiden, the Netherlands
Dates and times
Thursday Sept 14, 8:00-18:00 (Days of Art and Science)
Friday Sept 15, 8:00-18:00 (Days of Art and Science, free admission)
Saturday Sept 16, 19:00-23:00 (Night of Discoveries, ticket required)
Note most of these works are interactive, and may only be in full operation on Saturday.
Side program
Days of Art and Science
On Wednesday Sept 13, Peter van der Putten will be a panelist at Beyond the Canvas, a symposium on Art & Science for makers, artists and researchers
On Friday Sept 15, Maarten Lamers will speak the Brave New World conference, on the topic of Virtual Reality and attention.
Night of the Discoveries
On Saturday Sept 16, Peter will talk about the artwork Letters from Nature (joint work with Jeroen van der Most), and give a future talk on the relationship between Nature, Humans and Technology (n Dutch).