Signal:Noise is an experimental cross-disciplinary research project that aims to explore the influence of cybernetics and information theory on contemporary cultural life by testing out its central idiom, ‘feedback’, through debates, performances, and events.
Through the application of mechanical and scientific models for the understanding of social and political life, cybernetic theory – in particular notions of feedback – informed the development of many early conceptual and participatory artistic practices in the 1960s/70s, yet its influence is still under-recognized. Signal:Noise aims to bring together people who are working with these ideas in the fields of art, design, architecture and theory in order to re-open discussion around this discourse, looking at how it has informed cultural, social and political life, in the past and present.
The project is led by Steve Rushton, Dexter Sinister (David Reinfurt and Stuart Bailey), Marina Vishmidt, Rod Dickinson and Emily Pethick.
The UK edition of
Signal:Noise began with a four day event from 13-16 January 2011. It continued with a two day event from 20 - 21 January 2012.
Signal:Noise Part I is supported by Arts Council England, The Henry Moore Foundation, and members of The Showroom’s Supporters Scheme.
Signal:Noise Part II is supported by LCACE, Queen Mary School of Business and Management, Arts Council England, members of The Showroom’s Supporters Scheme and Outset as The Showroom's 2012 Production Partner. Special thanks to Lisson Gallery for support in kind for the event.
Signal:Noise is part of
Circular Facts – a collaborative endeavor between three European contemporary art organizations: Casco – Office for Art, Design and Theory, Utrecht, Objectif Exhibitions, Antwerp, The Showroom, London in partnership with Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen and Electric Palm Tree, financially supported by the Cooperation Measures Grant as part of the European Unions Culture 2007 programme.
Signal:Noise Part I Programme Overview
Thursday 13 January 2011, 7-9pm
Steve Rushton: How Media Masters Reality
Charlie Gere: La Cybernétique or Dark Cybernetics and the End of the Human. Moderated by Rod Dickinson and Marina Vishmidt
Friday 14 January 2011, 7-9pm
Richard Hornsey: The Cybernetic Londoner: A Prehistory
Rod Dickinson: Closed Circuit, performance at the Cockpit Theatre (Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH)
Saturday 15 January 2011, 2-9pm
2pm Lars Bang Larsen: Anti-Disciplinary Feedback and the Will to Effect
3pm Feedback as Cultural Logic lead by Marina Vishmidt, and Matthew Fuller with Andy Goffey and Benedict Seymour
5pm Will Holder speaks to Dexter Sinister
7pm Film screenings introduced by Steve Rushton and others
Sunday 16 January 2011, 2-8pm
2pm Emily Pethick speaks to Stephen Willats on art, society and feedback
3pm Emma Smith and Sophie Hope on social systems
4pm Rod Dickinson: An Invitation to a Zero Sum afternoon: Deadlock, Chicken, Stag Hunt and the Prisoner's Dilemma, led by Rod Dickinson
6pm Dexter Sinister: An Octopus in Plan View
On the Saturday and Sunday events dinner was available during the evening events, prepared by Lucky PDF.
An installation of Stephen Willats’ Homeostat Wall Drawing (2008) formed a backdrop to the event.
All events took place at The Showroom apart from Rod Dickinson's 'Closed Circuit' performance, which took place at the Cockpit Theatre (Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH).
Rod Dickinson's film 'Who, What, Where, When, Why and How' – a companion piece to his performance Closed Circuit was simultaneously on view at
Alma Enterprises.
Tickets: £15 for an Event Pass or £5 for a Day Pass.
Signal:Noise II Programme Overview
Friday 20 – Saturday 21 January 2012
Friday 20 January, 7-9pm
Aesthetics, Feedback and the Agency of Things
Presentations by Luciana Parisi and Florian Cramer
Moderator: Robert Jackson
Saturday 21 January, 11-7pm
Participation and Feedback
11.00 Presentation by Suzanne Treister
11.45 Presentation by Axel John Wieder
Responses from Marina Vishmidt and Emily Pethick
13.00 Break
13.30 Reading by Ricardo Basbaum
14.30 A selection of Jef Cornelis' 'Ijsbrekers' introduced by Koen Brams
15.30 Break
16.00 Feedback session with the organisers and speakers
16.45 Break
17.00 Screenings of found footage of RD Laing and Anja Kirschner and David Panos's 'Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances' (2011)
18.00 Performance by Mattin
Dan Graham's Past Future Split Attention (1972) was presented in the space throughout the event.
Admission free, no bookings taken.
