A Future Physical focus for specialists in the fields of biology, neurology, arts, technology, and the public, to debate and view topical, and often controversial, issues surrounding biotechnology.

The Bio-Technology content area explores the possibilities, practicalities and moral consequences that new technologies offer the human body in terms of repair, enhancement and extension; for example, genetics, artificial intelligence and implant technology.

The BIO-TECH Network Exchange is a co-production between Future Physical (shinkansen/East England Arts), firstsite, Colchester Arts Centre, Signals Media Arts in association with essexdance.

Click here to download the press release for the BIO-TECH & ECO-TECH NETWORK EXCHANGES
Click here for more information about the Biotech Network Exchange.
Click here for the full Bio-Tech Interchange Calendar.
Click here for BIOTECH Interchange Documentation.
Click here to see archived web streams from BIOTECH.
Click here for the BIOTECH InterChange Picture Gallery.

BIO-TECH Network Exchange
sunday 16th - wednesday 19th february
Colchester

What do you think of Dolly the cloned sheep? Does she represent a necessary step forward in the world of science, or is she the Frankenstein of the modern world? Would you, given the chance have a child tailor-made to your own personal tastes? Stem cell research could lead to longer lives but will it result in global food shortages from overpopulation? When computers know how to think like us, will they take over or will they be our partners in building the future?

These are the kind of questions explored within the BIO-TECH Network Exchange. What do new technologies have to offer the human body in terms of enhancement, extension and repair?

BIO-TECH InterChange
sunday 16th - wednesday 19th february
Colchester

For a limited number of twenty specialist delegates involved in collaborative biology / art / technology / dance based research practices. By application only.

• Led by professional artist/scientist mentors, Sara Diamond (Banff New Media Centre), Jane Prophet (University of Westminster), Daniel Glaser (UCL/ICA Scientist in Residence) and Nina Czgledy (Artist/Biologist).
• Working groups and presentations of research and process by commissioned artists (see Commissioned Works above).

Click here to find out more about the BIO-TECH InterChange !!

Code Zebra
Sara Diamond (Canada)
in & around the network exchange period
Web based project - http://www.codezebra.net

Code Zebra is, primarily, a visionary 3D chat and game environment - but it's not like any of the chat rooms we are used to finding on the web. Its striking, organic-looking interface borrows from biological cell structure, allowing users to create visual conversation histories, play games with each other and generate gorgeous individual patterns which bring to mind both the visual diversity of animal fur and plumage and tree bark.

Other elements of the Code Zebra experience include related video and documentary clips, live events, chats and the ability to create customised animal-print clothing. All of which explore the theme of marrying the technological to the biological. The Code Zebra team spans the globe, featuring artists based in Canada, the USA, The Netherlands and the UK.
http://www.codezebra.net

Code Zebra is a project by Sara Diamond and Code Zebra Inc. The partners involved are Smartlab Centre , London, UK; V2, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; C3, Budapest, Hungary; University of Turku, Tampere, Finland and Future Physical (shinkansen/East England Arts), UK.

Keynote Speech
Sara Diamond (Canada)
sunday 16th february
Colchester (for InterChange participants only)

A recording of the speech will streamed live on the web at 20.00 GMT

The keynote speech detailing a vision of the marriage between biology and technology by international artist/scientist Sara Diamond (Artistic Director, New Media Arts The Banff Centre Vancouver) New Media Arts,The Banff Centre, Vancouver).

Generator/BIO & ECO-TECH
Commissions
8th february - 29th march 2003 - admission free
firsite, Colchester

Exhibition of generator media across disciplines including sound and text based works, performance and issues of science relating to chaos theory, complex systems and artificial life.

Plus presentations of Future Physical BIO & ECOTECH commissions at firstsite:
Jane Prophet and Neil Theise - Cell (virtual environment); Stanza - genomixer (web project); Phillip Warnell - Shock (installation); Catherine Watling - Temporal Manifestations (research project); Rachel Wingfield - Digital Dawn (responsive window blind).
http://www.generative.net/generator

Generator is a Spacex touring exhibition organised in collaboration with STAR and with support from the Institute of Digital Art and Technology and the National Touring Programme of the Arts Council of England.

Commissioned Works
sunday 16th - sunday 23rd february
Colchester

The BIO & ECO-TECH Network Exchanges present a number of commissions as presentations, performances, exhibitions, process demos and installations.

These are:
# Ambienttv.net - Flip Flop (remote connected performance)
# Joseph Hyde - RememberMe (photobooth installation)
# People Like Us/Vicky Bennett - The Remote Controller (DVD project)
# Jane Prophet and Neil Theise - Cell (virtual environment)
# Isabel Rocamora - Memory Release (research project)
# Tom Sapsford - Hypnos (performance)
# Stanza - genomixer (web project)
# Phillip Warnell - Shock (installation)
# Catherine Watling - Temporal Manifestations (research project)
# Rachel Wingfield - Digital Dawn (responsive window blind)
# Alexa Wright and Alf Linney - Alter Ego (research project)

BioFlows
tuesday 18th february
Colchester Arts Centre

An evening of sharing process and practice from two of the Future Physical commissioned artists:
Isabel Rocamora exploring interdependency between sensory visual traces and key energy centres and Tom Sapsford with neurologist Daniel Glaser looking at sleep and hypnosis.

<< more >>

Participation

The Future Physical website provides an entry point to the programme online debate forums and details of the programme.

ACTIVATE: Register through the web site to join the Future Physical Community, and you will be kept informed of forthcoming Future Physical events.

ENGAGE: Join the online debate forum to engage in debates and air your views on body and technology.

EXCHANGE: Sign up for the InterChange gatherings for specialist exchange/debate within the series of Network Exchange Events.

note: InterChange places are limited, please register early:

Open from 15th November 2002: BIO-TECH / ECO-TECH

Open from 10th January 2003: RESPOND

Virtual Participation

If you cannot attend these exchange events physically, sign up for the online discussion groups and web casts and join in to and follow debate.

Check this website to keep up to date with events and activities: