「初·ZPTPJ」opened the festival with a performance from artists Miao Jing and Jason House. Photo by Kate Russell.
The 10th year of Currents New Media’s annual international new media festival got underway on June 6th at Santa Fe’s El Museo Cultural with a variety of interactive installations, multimedia performances, AR/VR exhibits, and much more.
Combining the works of local, national, and international artists, Currents New Media brings fine and contemporary art to the public through the creative use of new technologies. The event is enjoyable for attendees of all ages, and though this year is the first to require a $5 admission fee for one day, Meow Wolf’s sponsorship will make Saturday June 15 a “Free Day” at the festival!
Opening night of Currents New Media featured the audiovisual performance project, 「初·ZPTPJ」, from China’s innovative artists Miao Jing and Jason Hou, in which the concept of future primitivism is explored through the duo’s 8-chapter story of the rise and fall of a simulated civilization.
Also turning (and vibrating) heads during the festival’s opening weekend was Juri Hwang’s experimental sound project, “Somatic Echo,” which employs the human body as an auditory medium through bone-conducted sound. While this performance and 「初·ZPTPJ」were only available for visitors of Currents New Media 2019’s opening weekend, this year’s version of the festival features a diverse offering of fascinating and exciting works of art, including David Gumbs’ polymorphic “Blossoms,” Christine Remy’s hologrammatic “Stabat Meter,” and Neil Mendoza’s “Robotic Voice Activated Word Kicking Machine.”
Enough talk. Why don’t we show you a glimpse of what to expect if you make the wise choice to visit Currents New Media 2019?
Raul Altosaar’s “A Very Real Looper: Physically Colliding with Music” features a giant augmented reality instrument that maps musical samples onto physical objects and spaces. Photo by Kate Russell.
“Blossoms” by David Gumbs investigates notions of identity and belonging in a postcolonial Caribbean landscape. Photo by Kate Russell.
“Echo Chamber” by Jamie Hamilton is a vitrine presenting a view which appears to be infinite, but unlike a mirror the effect is visible from the outside. Photo by Kate Russell.
Avital Meshi’s “Live Feed” is a performance that opens up a portal to an infinite world, blurring the lines between which world is real and which is virtual. Photo by Kate Russell.
“Nightfield” by Juri Hwang is a multi-sensory media installation that transforms suspended traditional Korean paper into an immersive journey through sonic vibrations. Photo by Kate Russell.
“‘Bike Party’ in VR” by Billie Mitchell and Charles Veasy is a virtual reality environment that invites participants to bike alongside others in various cities. Photo by Kate Russell.
Jakob Kudsk Steensen’s “RE-ANIMATED” is a virtual reality and video installation based on 3D scans of real plants and animals. Photo by Kate Russell.
Neil Mendoza’s “Antivanity Mirror” is a robotic mirror that moves whenever you try to look at yourself. Photo by Kate Russell.
El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe in the historic Railyard District. Photo by Kate Russell.
This pig-bot from 「初·ZPTPJ」commands you to go to Currents New Media while it’s still open, from now through June 23!
