OPEN CALL | CAC 2019 (Fall) Research and Creation Fellowship

Chronus Art Center (CAC)

2019 (Fall) Research and Creation Fellowship

Call for Proposals

Title: Lucid Networks — Sporadic Correlations

Call Type: Fellowship (US$10,000)

Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted electronically by 23:59 (Beijing Time), July 15th, 2019 via 

http://fellowship.chronusartcenter.org

Notification of Selection: Applicants will be informed about their application status by the end of August, 2019

Start Date: Late September/Early October 2019 (starting date negotiable within reason)

Duration: Three months

< OVERVIEW >

This year Chronus Art Center (CAC) opens its Lab for the new 3-month Research and Creation Fellowship. This program is designed to host international artists and researchers of extraordinary talents in the area of new media art in order to conduct research and creation at Chronus Art Center (CAC), Shanghai. The 2019 Fall Research and Creation Fellowship aims to foster global exchange while advancing the discourse and practice of new media art, and contribute to CAC's research and educational mission as well as the institution's future collection.

< Lucid Networks — Sporadic Correlations >

Digital networks of different scales and intent sustain and depend upon each other. A variety of expressions transmitted and mediated via networks are facing a multitude of crisis; Post-truth, saturated uniformity of aesthetics, addictive consumption, fragile sense of intimacy and safety on and offline. The overwhelming relational complexity amplifies the paradox of a blind ecosystem, proving it difficult to imagine how far and to what extent our connections reach. Beyond trivial primary links lurks an opaque wilderness often positively connoted as ‘going viral', where phenomena emerge from basic interactions, uncontrollably inflate and feed back onto us'. Networks accumulate autonomy beyond rational grasp; Metaphors of omniscient spanning mesh, they circumvent, thread, and connect. 

Practically however, digital networks are defined by tangible, interconnected stacks and nodes. From data and cable distribution centers, routers and switches, personal and home devices, to sensors quantifying ‘users' and their preferences, faces, heartbeats, and fingertips. Identifying and claiming those strategical points of interest becomes crucial in leveraging net volatility and our agency as part of the ecosystem.

What happens at the other end(s), every time a data packet request triggers? How can a quiz of a free smartphone minigame help elect a president? Why do vacuum cleaners share floor plans of homes? Can we accidentally or deliberately confuse a network, and how would it treat us based on such confusion?

'Lucid Networks — Sporadic Correlations' invites to not only manifest critique but ‘walk on network’, inhabiting the digital intersections thanks to which peculiar connections take place. The call prompts artists, designers, and practitioners working with artificial intelligence and machine learning, open data, 'internet of things’, social media, and related fields. The projects should aim at but not limit themselves to investigating individual-to-large scale data flows, neural networks and deep learning, their potentials and biases, net intimacy and social media frictions, and how to champion individual and collective control over digital dependencies rather than abandoning them.

< ELIGIBILITY >

• This fellowship is open to international artists and researchers of all nationalities.

• Applicants should be able to use English as working language.

• Applicants must not be currently enrolled in degree-granting academic programs, with the exception of PHD candidates who are aiming to develop technical work within the scope of the fellowship.

• Applicants are expected to show demonstrable success in previous development of related projects at this scale.

• Individuals and collectives are eligible to apply. In either case, please make sure to specify how technical and creative responsibilities will be met. Please note that same funding conditions apply independently of the number of applicants.

The selected Fellow will be expected to work at CAC's laboratory with the research and creation team on a range of activities including active contribution to the larger CAC community, collaborative partnership with other fellows, leading research initiatives, educational programs and public engagement, and developing current or future research areas for the organization. Projects, including prototypes, documentation, and work-in-progress, will be presented to the public at Chronus Art Center.

ABOUT <CAC_LAB>

<CAC_LAB> is a space dedicated to the inquiry of present-day matters regarding art, design, science, technology and their impact on global contemporary culture and society. Through artistic practice, technological tools and research methodology, we enable creative processes that result in works of art of high production and academic value. <CAC_LAB> is a space of flux which encourages artistic practice as a generator of new knowledge, a territory where art and science converge into a contemporary and experimental field of academic research; free from mainstream cultural thought, technological stress and economical diversions.

More info at: 

http://lab.chronusartcenter.org

CAC: 

http://www.chronusartcenter.org/en/

Previous fellows: 

http://lab.chronusartcenter.org/fellowship/?lang=en

< FELLOWSHIP SUPPORT >

This Fellowship is a chance for international artists and researchers to engage and learn from the art, technological and entrepreneurial communities of Shanghai. The selected Fellow will be offered a total amount of USD$10,000 for a 3 month deep-immersion period; including artist fees, living expenses and materials. In addition, the fellow will be granted access to our lab facilities and tools. These include but are not limited to: ‘OPTITRACK’ motion capture system, two ‘Oculus Rift’ VR headsets, laser cutter, 3D printer, band saw, sander belt, drill press, manual and prototyping tools, a soldering station along with a variety of electronic components.

For international Fellows CAC is happy to provide the supporting paperwork (official letter of invitation) and assist in the process of securing a visa, travel bookings and finding accommodation inShanghai. All the expenses must be covered from the amount provided by the fellowship.

During the three-month program, CAC will work closely with the selected Fellow to see their project realized and offer program support in developing work for performances, events, seminars, exhibitions, or other public and educational programming for the period of the Fellowship. CAC will also facilitate joint presentations alongside community partners, host conversations with the artists and showcase their work in progress shedding light on the creative process.

< APPLICATION GUIDELINE >

Please fill out the online application form and submit it with the necessary attachments via 

http://fellowship.chronusartcenter.org. 

Incomplete or email-sent submissions will not be taken into account.

Proposals should include:

• A clear description of the envisioned idea

• Conceptual background

• Technical framework and specifications

• Sketches, renders or other relevant audiovisual materials.

• Preliminary production timeline

• Budget allocations.

Taking into account CAC’s potential interest to showcase the results of the Fellowship as part of the public program, projects will be expected to be completed or presented as advanced working prototypes by the end of the Fellowship. 

< EVALUATION CRITERIA >

Applications will be reviewed and the final decision—including interviews—will be made by CAC's International AdvisoryBoard comprised of leading scholars, artists, and museum professionals. Acceptance will be based on the overall quality of the proposal and its potential to contribute to CAC_LAB's broader research endeavors.

For further inquiries, please email:

fellowship@chronusartcenter.org.