HACKING HABITAT - THE ART OF CONTROL

APT artist Kendell Grees is participating the project HACKING HABITAT - THE ART OF CONTROL

CONCEPT

All over the world people are set in motion to get to grips with their lives. They make passionate attempts to retain a firm ground in a quickly changing hightech society. The art manifestation HACKING HABITAT articulates the ever growing influence of systems and institutions, and pinpoints the impact of technology in this turbulent environment.

We are witnessing the rise of a ‘remote control society’ colonizing and infiltrating increasing realms of daily life for the sake of safety and risk- management. Monitoring cameras and smart gateways are installed everywhere, while we are classified and atomized by automatic face recognition. Software and algorithms define who deviates or contributes too little to our economy. Facebook directs our social life and Google leads us straight away towards the next purchase. The internet shapes our commercial and social relationships

Hightech systems are interconnected on a global scale. The Internet of Things for instance is extending rapidly and gaining more power everyday, to such an extent that we lose oversight. The internal mechanisms of institutions start to lead their own life more and more: services are automated, data are the new currency, efficiency has become the norm and is identified with everyone’s proper adjustment to machines. Technology’s promise of the quick fix is changing power structures everywhere and the appeal of solutionism is stronger than ever.

HACKING HABITAT looks for alternative ways. How can citizens take charge and reclaim their environment? And how to keep our relations human? First of all, HACKING HABITAT aims to encourage public awareness of a society mediated by technology. But the visual art manifestation also offers new tools enabling resistance against an excess of control and regulation: as a steppingstone to the exhibition four life-hack marathons will be organized. HACKING HABITAT will take place from February to June 2016 in the former prison at the Wolvenplein in Utrecht.

HACKING HABITAT consists of three streams:

1) In 2015 artists, hackers and citizens will meet in four life-hack marathons, where they will teach each other the art of surviving. Stakeholders in issues like debt, hampered freedom of movement, invisibility, and bureaucracy are invited to discuss possible solutions.

2) From February to June 2016 the international art exhibition will take place in the former prison of Utrecht: technology will sparkle but its dark sides will be spotlighted too.
3) During the event a large circus tent will give room for human creativity. Artists and non-artists together will create an inclusive public domain where differences matter.

Foundation Niet Normaal aims to realize large-scale exhibitions on urgent social issues. The foundation has a so-called ANBI status and works on a non- profit basis. Old as well as new means of funding are employed to make this manifestation possible. The earnings model is grounded on fund-raising, sponsoring, workshops on payment and ticket sales.

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Sculpture: bronze, concrete, glass, handcuffs
(2011)

Kendell Geers (South Africa, 1968)

The work of Kendell Geers subverts moral codes and principles. He makes fun of racial and religious stereotypes and often refers to his past as an anti-apartheid activist.