Workshops: Getting ‘hands on’ with science and technology
As our residency with the SETI Institute progresses, we’ve continued to explore the fascinating intersections of art, science, and technology. The second week of our residency, starting on the 22nd of July, brought us deeper into these explorations with two workshops led by Ashley. These workshops not only pushed the boundaries of our creative processes but also facilitated profound discussions on the nature of communication, technology, and the future.
Workshop 1: Hands On – Identity, Modification, Interpretation
The first workshop of the week focused on the theme of identity modification and interpretation. We wanted to investigate how we can communicate complex ideas to public audiences through playful, interactive digital works. Participants were invited to use digital technology to transform and visualize hands, a symbol of human identity and interaction, in response to the future challenges of climate change and genetic adaptation. This hands-on workshop aimed to create new forms and shape the future of this prototype artwork, offering a glimpse into how our identities might evolve in the face of environmental and genetic shifts.here about the outcomes
Workshop 2: We Are Waveforms – Speculative Futures and Noise
The second workshop took participants into the realm of waveforms, speculative futures, and noise. Here, the focus was on hacking and repurposing technology to produce speculative artefacts that explore a fake news future and reimagine sounds of the past. Participants built an electronic device that converts the flow of electricity into audible sonic cones from a simple 9V battery—no soldering or coding required. This workshop provided a tactile experience that engaged the participants in the act of making, which later evolved into rich discussions on the broader implications of our creations.
Both workshops featured participants who work as radio astronomers and researchers at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and the environment. The conversations were expansive, building on the ideas from the previous week’s workshops and delving into the concept of deep time, the nature of intelligent communication, and the ways in which different species might communicate. We questioned the human-centric approach to communication, exploring how language might evolve, how we interpret the signals and sounds of other species, and how we define these as messages.
Expanding the Dialogue
One of the most rewarding aspects of this week was witnessing how the flow of conversation was shaped by the act of making. Initially, the hands-on process seemed to delay a full discussion, but about two-thirds of the way through the workshop, the conversation really took off. We found ourselves deeply engaged in debates about abstract signals, sounds, and lights, and how these might be interpreted as forms of communication.
This was perhaps the most fruitful day of all our workshops so far. The ideas we had been cultivating in previous discussions reached a point of convergence, resulting in a shared conversation filled with thought-provoking insights. Participants from diverse backgrounds, yet united by a common curiosity about the universe, our planet, and the human condition, contributed to what felt like a truly interdisciplinary and collaborative exchange.
Preparing for Hat Creek Radio Observatory
With these discussions fresh in our minds, we felt well-prepared for the next phase of our residency: a visit to the Hat Creek Radio Observatory. This visit promises to further enrich our understanding and inspire new directions in our ongoing collaboration with SETI.