[spectre] <re:Play>: an exhibition of critical games by artists

[honor]

hi spectres,

i wanted to let you know about the exhibition r a d i o q u a l i a have
put together in cape town, south africa.  it is about political computer
games made by artists and is called <re:Play>.

hope this is of interest to some of you.

best

honor




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r a d i o q u a l i a + the Institute for Contemporary Art, Cape Town announce:
an exhibition of critical games by artists:


<re:Play>

http://www.radioqualia.net/replay


WHEN

08.10.03 - 01.11.03


WHERE

L/B's
The Lounge at Jo'Burg Bar
222 Long Street
Cape Town 8001
South Africa


START

<re:Play> explores the world of the computer game. It features an
exhibition of artists' computer games and a programme of workshops and
lectures, given by the curators and artists in the exhibition.

One of the most popular forms of entertainment in contemporary culture is
the computer game. <re:Play> considers how gaming has affected the
development of new forms of technological creativity and new modes of
interaction and communication between people. It introduces techniques and
strategies employed by artists and technicians working with games, and asks
how can the hardware and software used to distribute and present games be
subverted, re-purposed or even enriched through the intervention of artists
or maverick technicians.

<re:Play> presents projects created by artists which use game formats to
make political observations. While some of the games presented are entirely
new creations (such as Antiwargame by Josh On + Futurefarmers), others are
ironic, often slightly humourous recreations of existing lo-fi arcade games
(such as Space Invaders Act 1732 by Andy Deck). While the original arcade
games such as Space Invaders, Quick Draw and Backlash encouraged users to
engage in acts of violence, the artistic recreations of these games are
infused with a political dimension that critiques the original violent
character of the games, and also invites a slightly more meditative
approach to the subject matter being presented in the games.


PLAY

http://www.radioqualia.net/replay

The games in the exhibition are:

Space Invaders Act 1732 by Andy Deck
Blacklash by Mongrel
Antiwargame by Josh On + Futurefarmers
The Intruder by Natalie Bookchin
Escape from Woomera by selectparks
NationStates by Max Barry

These games have a strong political dimension, and explore how play,
interaction and competition can be utilised in an artistic context.



CONTINUE

The advent of digital technology is arguably the most important recent
development in contemporary art. Computers, the internet, digital video and
audio, as well as other technological tools, have become as integral to
artistic expression as they have to other fields of human activity. As a
result new forms of artistic practice are emerging.

Although computers, the internet, and interactive games technologies have
the potential to level the playing fields within culture, and offers
previously marginalised artists the opportunity to participate equally
within a global mainstream, the unequal distribution of technology and a
continuing lack of access to knowledge pools has led to a situation where
only a small number of artists in South Africa are ready and able to use
digital technology effectively as a form and medium of expression. This
exhibition and related education programmes will offer South African
audiences and people interested in visual culture, the opportunity to
experience current practices within art which exists on the internet or
within computer games.


LEARN

The project includes a programme of workshops and lectures
<http://www.radioqualia.net/replay/continue.html>

The workshops will be lead by Graham Harwood from Mongrel, and will
introduce people to the technologies and concepts used by artists who work
with digital media.


CREDITS

A collaboration between the Institute for Contemporary Art, Cape Town and r
a d i o q u a l i a and realised with the support of the the British
Council, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Pro Helvetia,
digicape and Jo'burg Bar.



CONTACT

r a d i o q u a l i a
Email: radioqualia at va.com.au
URL: http://www.radioqualia.net
http://www.radioqualia.net/replay


Institute for Contemporary Art, Cape Town
Email: i.c.a at iafrica.com


L/B's: the lounge at Jo'burg Bar
Address: 222 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001
Ph: +27 21 422 0142
Email: info at lb-lounge.co.za
URL: http://www.lb-lounge.co.za/






honor at va.com.au

r a d i o q u a l i a:
http://www.radioqualia.net

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present location: cape town, .za

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current research:
http://www.radioqualia.net/replay/
http://www.radioqualia.net/real/frame.html