Diffusion (Latin diffusio, from Latin diffundere “to pour out”, “to scatter”, “to spread out”) is the equalisation of concentration differences in mixtures of substances occurring without external influence as a naturally occurring physical process due to the inherent motion of the particles involved. Over time, it leads to the complete mixing of two or more substances due to the uniform distribution of the moving particles and thus increases the entropy of the system.
The Gdansk satellite of the Arcadia Festival poses the question of the coexistence of human and non-human life forms in the man-made structures of our cities. The focus is not on human’s ability to reason, or on humans as the architects of these structures, but places humans on an equal footing with the fellow inhabitants of the planet in biological, ecological and sociological terms.
The human-made structures of our cities are permeated with life. Depending on the form of life and the species, this life is accommodated, protected, displaced or destroyed by them. How do life and structures interact? How does life interact with other life? Can a diffusion of life be detected in the “system city”? What does this mean in the medium and long term for our cities and the quality of life for the different forms of life in them?
If our cities were vessels and the different forms of life in them were different gases, then the latter – striving towards the state of greatest possible entropy – would mix completely over time. A state of uniform distribution of all life would arise. Arcadia.
In three dialogues, one scientist and one artist will discuss various aspects of the co-existence of different – human and non-human – forms of life in urban space. The conversations will be held during walks through public space and recorded audio-visually. The conversations will be held in English.
The three 20-minute video documentaries will be shown in the central exhibition at Kunstverein Ebersberg. In addition, all videos will be shown in a panel discussion with all participants in Gdansk.
19 May – 30 June 2023 Arcadia Festival #3
Beautiful New World
Part I: 19 May – 12 June : Ebersberg, Berlin, Gdansk
Part II: 12 – 30 June : Rijeka
http://arkadienfestival.embassy-of-arcadia.eu/
Kurator: S.E. Peter Kees
Co-Kuratoren Rijeka: Katarina Podobnik & Katerina Jovanović
Co-Kurator Danzig: Fundacja Kultury Wizualnej Chmura, Aleksandra Grzonkowska & Florian Tuercke
Co-Kurator Berlin: Ottj.rg A.C.
Schirmherren: Landrat Robert Niederges & Bürgermeister Ulrich Proske
The actors of the dialogues are:
Kamila Chomicz
Graduate of biology at the University of Gdańsk and the Academy of Film and Television in Warsaw. She makes films, takes photos, organises workshops and meetings. Creates various educational campaigns and social-artistic projects, in which she tries to talk about important issues in a creative and interesting way. She collaborates with institutions, organisations and independent artists, and carries out projects independently, as well as within the framework of the MI-RO-RO Foundation. In the last three years, her work has been related to environmental protection, the promotion of science, sustainable urban and rural development and ecological tourism.
Elvin Flamingo
Artist and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk/Poland, Vice Dean of Intermedia 2016-2019. His projects combine art, biology and technology. He describes his works as Biomedia Art. He works at the fields of Bio Art, Life Art and Autonomous Installation.
By far, Elvin Flamingo’s major project is the “Symbiosity of Creation”. Begun in 2012, as an idea the work is envisaged to continue until 2034. The work’s point of departure is cultivation of farming ants who foster fungi (first farmers on Earth). Built of three parts, it invokes the themes of destruction and re-construction. The best-known element of the work is the “Reconstruction of Non-human Culture”.
Natalia Grzymała
Councillor of Śródmieście district, initiator of Givebox Gdańsk. Graduate of the Academy of Music in Gdansk, vocalist and composer. In 2013, she released her debut album ‘Piórko’ with original compositions to poems by Tricity poet Barbara Piórkowska.
Martyna Jankowska-Jarek
Biologist by choice and passion. She is a PhD student at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk, where she pursues her two main scientific interests: bats and anatomy. She disenchants the bad PR of bats outside the walls of the university, telling stories about these fascinating mammals to both children in kindergartens and inmates in detention centres.
Joanna Seredyńska
Graduated Medicine in 2003, specialisation in clinical oncology (2011). Since 2018 Joanna has been working at the University Hospital – in the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy. As a physician-practitioner she teaches students, researches gastrointestinal cancers, and analyses clinical trials with new anti-cancer drugs.
Krzysztof Topolski
Drummer, sound artist, composer, improviser, author of projects in the field of music and art. He focuses on field recording, soundscape and acoustic ecology, creates sound installations. Key concepts in his work are noise, vibration and groove.
http://krzysztoftopolski.wordpress.com
Concept and realisation
Aleksandra Grzonkowska
Art historian, researcher, curator and president of Fundacja Kultury Wizualnej Chmura
Florian Tuercke
Freelance artist and musician
Fundacja Kultury Wizualnej Chmura
