TodaysArt’s 13th edition dives into the opaque and complex nature of algorithms, September 22 and 23, The Hague (The Netherlands)

On September 22 and 23, TodaysArt opens its 13th edition with its adventurous programme of artworks, installations, interventions, workshops and panels. The festival gives stage to over 20 renowned artists presented within the context of digital culture and our contemporary moment.

In its priorities, this new edition of TodaysArt seeks to embrace the opaque and complex nature of algorithmic systems and tries to make this sphere often incomprehensible in a critical commitment to technologies.

The festival takes place at multiple venues of The Hague’s national theatre, including the Royal Theatre (Koninklijke Schouwburg) the Filmhuis and Theater aan het Spui. TodaysArt takes a disruptive approach to the scenography and the setting of the festival, digitally transforming classical venues and presenting contrasting productions side by side.

With their ‘Predictive Art Bot’ Nicolas Maigret and Maria Roszkowska are exploring ideas around AI and creativity in relation to art. Their installation consists of a computer running algorithm that
combines the headlines of articles on digital art, hacktivism, democracy and fake news. The algorithms generate random and radical titles for future cyberpunk-like artworks which have not yet
been implemented or conceived of by humans. ‘Greenscreen’, a performance-intervention by Aram Bartholl in public space. Random passersby are ‘caught’ in a portable green screen, unknowingly becoming actors of a fictive film-set. Bartholl touches upon the current alternative realities of which we are simultaneously part of. Artists Ragnar Kjartansson, Ingrid Eel, Bogomir Doringer, Technoflesh (Simone C. Niquille), Jonas Lund, Julien Deprez, Nicolas Maigret, Manuel Beltràn and Mike Rijnierse will also be featured in this new edition.

This year the festival is accompanied by an extensive ‘Context Programme’ presenting panels, workshops, project presentations and talks that engage with central questions on algorithmic complexity, ethics, blockchain technology, new democracies and the future of music. Among the confirmed participants and speakers are computer scientist, professor and writer Paul Feigelfeld,
professor of interactive media and director of the Institute of Network Cultures Geert Lovink, human rights lawyer and digital rights advocate Renata Avila, future design researcher and writer
Gauthier Roussilhe, Hendrik-Jan Grievink of the Next Nature network, and artist, activist, researcher, and founder of the Institute of Human Obsolescence Manuel Beltràn.

More information here