This is the foundation the Media Solution Center is built upon. Exploring these doors in a collaborative manner rather than individually, artists and scientists are able to innovate in interesting ways as well as reflect on the use of technology and its societal impact. Part of our mission has always been the coordination of such efforts.
We still do not see a New European Renaissance anywhere. Much to the contrary, what we see is decadence and dusk coming over Europe and the world from all sides. It can be seen in the intolerance spreading via the so-called "social media" and in the incapacity of the majority of Europeans in identifying what the Human Values we live by are. Defending democracy, fighting the intolerance around us and finding new ways of true political representation of the people and their economic, environmental and social needs is becoming more necessary every single day. The humanities used to complement the personal advancement of each individual. Today they are a necessary condition for the survival of humanity and the planet - and for a Renaissance, if there shall ever be another one.
During the 15th and 16th century nobody thought they were living through a Renaissance. Perhaps when later generations look back at our time they will say that we are witnessing the beginning of the Next Renaissance right now and it was really up to us to break new ground again and move things forward positively, collaboratively and with a clear intent.
A base camp for new alliances between art and science in the 21st century - this is how the exhibition “Renaissance 3.0” describes its claim and its position in the field of tension between the two disciplines. Originally developed by the Zentrum für Kunst und Medien (ZKM), it is now being brought to other locations through cooperation with the MSC and the EIT CC Flagship Initiative “The Next Renaissance”. The first stop on this tour: Paris.
The exhibition opened its doors to the public on 13th May 2024 at the Goethe-Institut Paris. After a couple of passionate speeches by representatives from ZKM, EIT, Goethe-Institut and MSC as well as the curator of the exhibition Anett Holzheid the massive audience was able to experience a live performance of Helen Pynor’s polyphonic choral sound work, which is part of her exhibited work “93% Human”. The piece was performed by the Ensemble Sequenza 9.3.
The next hours were spent looking at the exhibition with works by Zbyněk Baladràn (CZ), Thijs Biersteker (NL), Michèle Boulogne (NL), Thomas Feuerstein (AT), Linu Grönlund & Okku Nuutilainen (FI), Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (CA), Manfred P. Kage (DE), Egór Kraft (AT/DE/JP), Dorcas Müller (DE), Joel Ong (CA), Jean Painlevé (FR) and Joel Sherwood-Spring (AU). Enjoying some French wine with some German currywurst, visitors were able to reflect on the exhibition and its larger themes, as well as connect and socialize. All in all a wonderful evening.
The exhibition will be open until 27th August 2024.
Text by Matthias Hauser