THURSDAY 20TH FEBRUARY 2003

GROUP DISCUSSION NOTES

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ECO-TECH? .
Seeking a common understanding…..

Humans (agency) are part of nature, are our actions natural anyway?

Concepts of:

• unatural?
• authentic?
• artificial?

Practice – the ecological in art and culture

Brainstorm: It is:-

• Acoustic ecology
• Green architecture
• Hi and Low tech – false dichotomy between advanced and sustainable technologies
• Responsive architectures and materials - environment
• Low impact Design
• Organic actions and processes - biometrics
• Intent - great artistic effect, least damage
• Celebrates place, local ecology, interelationships
• Use of appropriate technology/ appropriate use of technology
• Gaming- Eco the dolphin quest (+educ)
• Green anarchy
• Factory farming
• Networking - dynamic intelligent, energy ideas distributing, hub - how is was made, can effect
• Paradox Discrepancy – ecology and technology – in human activity
  eg. nuclear power, clean energy; 10,000 years longevity,?
• Species that adapt to urban habitats

QUESTIONS: Towards a definition of Eco-Tech:

"appropriate" technologies eg earth sensitive tech. if used from word go.

How to deal with ecological arts practice and digital arts?

Exploit or save? extinct / destroy
(from hunter gatherer-to agranIan culture)

Suspicion from eco-artists/activists

Community based projects

Intent – what can we expect Eco-Tech practice to do at the level of public understanding and development - what can be expected?

How far can we go in education- whether you need to?

Effect of practice on behavior at a local and community level

Local vs Global

Micro/macro

do nothing? Push it to extinction? Gaian theory.

HISTORY – strong existing eco-tech practice. Must not forget; work already happened in learning about PLACE, SITE, ECOLOGY, LAND – context

Community specific

Eco-Tech practice in widest form is dealing with concepts of ECO-SYSTEMS
Web Crawler celebrates the ecology of the web.

History.Culture.Visual/ sensory – planners use the Landmap. Push by artists into town and country planning leading to creation of an ARTMAP.

Need to bring other artistic factors to play in town and country planning process

In the US/UK artists are involved in architectural design- eg. waterstations, powerstations, design, ARTMAP.