[artinfo] MEDI@TERRA 03

[László Zoltán]

MEDI at TERRA 03

6th International Art and Technology Festival

5 - 8 December 2003

LETTERS - PRO POSITIONS

CALL FOR PROJECTS

WORD ING

At particular moments in time, in every culture, texts (i.e. the
expression and formulation of an idea into words) have played a
fundamental role in explaining, pushing the boundaries, and provoking
changes. What is strange and interesting is for thoughts,
intellectual concepts, and existing dynamic to come together in the
form of words placed in the appropriate order on inexpensive
material, and then for this material to ãstirä the world. The Ten
Commandments, the Gospels, Marxâs Capital, the theory of relativity,
writings on psychoanalysis, just to name a few, are famous texts that
have changed the world we live in. Texts have a direct impact on art,
which often expresses the same content in its own way, with or
without the use of words, or creates content that has arisen from the
original text.

But what is happening in the case of digital culture, where text,
traditionally identified with printed media, now acquires a different
dynamic? What about hypertext or even hypermedia where text is
augmented with images, sound, other text, actions? Do these new forms
of text have the ãpowerä of significant impact, or perhaps more, or
less? Does form overpower content or does it serve and support it?
What is the relationship between the various elements contained in
hypertext and what role do these play, if any?



PROPOSITION TO WRITE A LETTER

Letters: personal ideas expressed in writing, addressed to a friend,
a colleague, a loved one or a stranger whom we admire or loathe; a
form of text, perhaps not as grand but just as powerful and even more
fascinating in that it encompasses the incubation of ideas; a
foundation of culture in which we have all taken part in, from the
migrant to the philosopher to those responsible for our destiny; a
form of social practice and communication which slowly diminished by
the widespread use of the telephone and easy travel, and is now
re-emerging thanks to the Internet and SMS messages.


Medi at terra has formulated its theme for 2003 around this unique piece
of communication by proposing the composition of 7 letters + 1.

The form of each letter will be hypertext, in the broader sense of
the word, Every letter can contain or be linked with multimedia
works, an exhibition, a conference, an explanatory paper, a
spectacle, a film.

Or, it can simply be text, as long as its creator believes that it is
sufficient and requires nothing more.

Who should these letters be addressed to?

The first letter is addressed to an unborn child.

The second letter is addressed to someone who lives in another
dimension, but our civilisation has not yet reached the level that
will allow us to communicate with him/her.

The third letter is addressed to a person engaged in the
administration of our dimension.

The fourth letter is addressed to God.

The fifth letter is addressed to a person who would like to become god.

The sixth letter is addressed to a person who would like to remake the
world.

The seventh letter to a person preparing something new and unknown to
him/her, i.e. working with something he doesnât know.

Alternatively, it can be a love letter.

TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

The following are eligible to take part in the MEDIATERRA Festival 2003

- Cultural centres
- Research organisations
- Groups of artists, researchers, activists, etc.
- Universities, colleges, schools
- Networks
- Individuals

NOTE: The author of a letter for Mediaterra 2003 may call upon a
number of different people, groups or centres to take part. In this
case, the proposal should include letters of acceptance from all the
organisations/individuals involved, declaring their participation in
the planning and, if accepted, the realisation of the work.

Every letter-proposal should be submitted in the following form:

a.    Description, development of the idea on which the letter will
be based (200 words)

b.    Reference and brief description of the media that will make
up the letter-total proposal (e.g. 1. text, 2. site, 3. exhibition of
photographs in real space, 4. multimedia performance)

c.    Assessment of the total cost of the proposal and of each part
separately.

d.    Technical specifications and requirements for the
presentation of the work with special reference to the individual
parts.

e.    Images/sketches/designs that you believe will contribute to
the description of your proposal, or any sample, draft version or
prototype that may exist. Please include supporting material on one
of the following media: CD-ROM, DVD, VHS tape or mini DV.

f.    CV of the person or persons submitting the proposal, profile
of the spaces/centres/schools etc. (100 words)


Please note that all letters - propositions should be in English.

The jury of the festival will select the 7+1 best proposals and
develop them in collaboration with the artists - groups submitting
them so that the final form of the proposal will be presented in the
context of Medi at terra 03.

THE FUTURE


MEDIATERRA 03 is a preliminary step for a grand event in 2004, which
will coincide with the summer Olympic Games 2004 taking place in
Greece. On the occasion of this event, a production will be developed
to include scientific, philosophical, and artistic work aiming
essentially to cultivate the Olympic truce, peace and development.

Deadline for proposals: 10 October 2003

Please visit http://www.mediaterra.org for the entry form of this
year' s festival.

For more information please contact us via

e-mail: info at fournos-culture.gr or tel: +30 210 6460748

Fournos, Center for the Art and the New Technologies

168 Mavromichali str
11472 Athens - Greece
http://www.fournos-culture.gr; http://www.medi@terra.org