Beta is a new festival of arts and technology that will take place at The Digital Hub and the surrounding area of Dublin 8 from 2nd-5th of November.
Festival furator and producer Aisling Murray introduces the inaugural edition of Beta below.
I've always been fascinated by the power of creativity in empowering audiences.
I started my career in theatre as a producer after doing an M.Phil in Theatre & Performance in Trinity College Dublin, with my research focussing on the evolving role of the spectator. Thinking about audiences and spectating has always been at the centre of my work.
When I first started working in Science Gallery Dublin I recall Lynn Scarff (who was the director and is now the brilliant director of National Museums Ireland) explaining we’re not the experts but facilitators and that’s why on every exhibition we would collaborate with different scientists, academics and institutions who do have expertise in particular areas.
It really resonated with me as I’ve always felt like a non-expert and if I’m good at anything it’s bringing together the right people to make projects happen. I actually think a good mix of experts and non-experts across disciplines is a great recipe for collaboration!
Last year I was over in The Digital Hub doing a talk on artificial intelligence, ethics and art with the wonderful artist Robin Price, who had a new commission there (Do Algorithms Dream of Electronic Shapes) and I mentioned to Fiach Mac Conghail who is CEO of The Digital Hub, about how there seemed to be a gap for a festival of art and technology in Ireland. This coincided with a chat with Paul O’Neill from D.A.T.A., who had been feeling something similar. It all kind of snowballed from there and Beta was imagined.
The Digital Hub has made a five-year commitment to the festival and Science Foundation Ireland are supporting it in its first year, which is a huge boost.
I wanted to create a festival that would put a spotlight on the communities of artists and researchers already doing interesting things with art and technology in Ireland. Also to create a programme with an international outlook, one that is accessible and playful for audiences while showcasing and/or explaining some new technologies.
For example, UK artist Libby Heaney’s work in the exhibition is a beautiful 360 degree immersive projection experience which can be experienced for its beauty as spectacle - but is also about quantum technology, and was actually created using quantum computing. It caters for all audiences; if you want to dive deeper into the thematics or technologies you can learn a bit, or you can just come and enjoy the art!
I have to remind people I am not a technology whizz-kid, but I am an enthusiast. Frequently in programming, my approach is that if I don’t understand it then the audience won’t either. Making ideas accessible is definitely a priority.
I’ve been working with artists Peter Power and Leon Butler producing their new work Dwelling over the past year and a half, and it’s honestly going to be a really special and spectacular project. It is premiering in Project Arts Centre as part of Beta on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November.
It’s difficult to describe but, it’s a live digital performance with two dancers and choreographers: Rosie Stebbing performing live in the space, and Robyn Byrne, who has been working with the team on creating a digital dancer. That’s all I’ll say without giving away too much!
The work embodies grieving, isolation and catharsis using a live game engine, interactive video, generative audio and motion tracking. It reflects on the tension between the physical and digital worlds - something I think everyone has felt in the past few years.
Leon also created the Beta logo using machine learning to generate a new (and imperfect) font. We had a lot of fun doing it. In the first version Leon sent he had cleaned up the data set and actually we decided that wasn’t particularly interesting, so we corrupted the data set with weird fonts to create more uncanny moments with the font.
There are also plenty of free activities - the exhibition that opens as part of the festival will run until the 19th of November, so there will be more time to experience it.
On Sunday 5th we have a Repair Cafe by Tog Hackerspace where you can bring along any broken electronics to be repaired over tea and coffee, as well as a live recording with Culture File on generative art, that will be broadcast on Lyric FM, so keep an eye on the schedules!
The main takeaway for audiences is to come and enjoy the festival, maybe learn something and create a space for people interested in art and technology to connect and come together.
Beta takes place at The Digital Hub and the surrounding area of Dublin 8 from Thursday 2nd of November – Sunday 5th of November - find out more here.
