MIRA, digital arts festival based on exhibition, dissemination and education, and La Salle Campus Barcelona, founding member of the Universitat Ramon Llull, sign an agreement to launch 'IASLab x MIRA – Artist in Residence ', an artistic residency project that delves into the intersection of art, science and technology and encourages experimentation and collaboration between artists, scientists and technologists. The aim of the program is to invite outstanding participants to push the boundaries of traditional disciplines, adopting a spirit of innovation and research to imagine what lies ahead for humanity.
The artistic residency is an initiative of MIRA and the Master of Science in Digital Arts and Creative Technologies of La Salle Campus Barcelona, directed by Xavi Bové, and which will emphasize experimental practices, encouraging participants to explore non-conventional approaches to create and conceptualize . The concept of speculation is fundamental to the exploration as, through artistic research and critical discourse, it seeks to promote thought and dialogue about the possibilities of the future.
The residency program will take place during the 24-25 academic year at the IASLab, a multi-sensory laboratory located at La Salle Campus Barcelona which opens on October 24. This space is incorporated into the knowledge ecosystem of the campus and contributes, with projects such as 'IASLab x MIRA – Artist in Residence', to the growth of digital arts and creative technologies, areas in which Barcelona has become a reference on an international scale. The IASlab - which has virtual and augmented reality laboratories, an immersive room and an anechoic chamber, among other unique labs - is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and subsidized by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalonia Along these lines, the general director of La Salle Campus Barcelona, Josep M. Santos, explains: "Our realities are evolving rapidly, driven by the advances in science and technology that shape all facets of our existence. In this sense, research and education are indispensable elements to activate the changes that the world needs".
Portrait XO, The Glad Scientist i Marta Minguell, resident artists
The first artists invited to be part of the residency are Portrait XO, an independent and transdisciplinary researcher who has been recognized for her work in sound innovation with the Dadabots, the pioneers of audio with AI; The Glad Scientist (Daniel Sabio), a conceptual media artist who is known for his live audiovisual performances; and Marta Minguell (Soulstice), an audiovisual designer and artist who graduated in Animation and VFX at La Salle Campus Barcelona and has created audiovisual installations and visualizations at several festivals. While part of the program, the artists will make progress on previous works or produce a new work of art that they will present in a public exhibition once they have finished the residency.
The co-director of MIRA, Marc Gomariz, states that this residency "allows the future generations of digital artists and creative industry professionals to be trained. By collaborating with La Salle Campus Barcelona, MIRA has access to new ideas, artistic methods and forms of presentation in addition to emerging trends and fresh talents that can enrich its programming, provide innovative perspectives and differentiate the festival and maintain it at the forefront of the industry”. For his part, the coordinator of the Master of Science in Digital Arts and Creative Technologies at La Salle Campus Barcelona, Albert Barqué-Duran, declares: "The intersection of art, science and technology becomes fertile ground for exploration and offers a unique lens through which to speculate about our future as human beings. Together, we will embark on an existential journey of imagination and exploration, forging connections between the realms of art, science and technology to illuminate the way forward."