The words “algorithm” and “art” are rarely spoken in the same sentence, but this weekend, through Sunday (June 17), the fourth annual Vector Festival at InterAccess (9 Ossington, 416-532-0597) and satellite locations blends the two concepts with intriguing art exhibits, concerts and panel talks.
Under the theme Autonomous Agents, the fest’s stated mission is to showcase works that explore new media as autonomous artistic agents, creating everything from robotic sound sculptures and algorithmic drawing machines to machinima (the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production. Fifteen artists have been invited to take part, hailing from Canada, U.S., Italy and Australia.
Unlike other arts festivals that dip their pinkie toes into the pool of digital art, Vector is cannonballing into the concept at venues such as InterAccess, CineCyle, Artscape Youngplace and Reposado.
The artistic agency of the algorithm is the focus, and the theme is best explored in flagship exhibition The Algorithmic Imagination at InterAccess. Particularly head-turning is Brent Watanbe’s San Andreas Deer Cam. The Seattle artist lets you follow a deer wandering through the fictional state of San Andreas, found in the video game Grand Theft Auto.
Saturday night (July 16), Artscape Youngplace curates a concert of musicians and visual artists. Spectral Sound System and Karl Fousek with Dan Browne perform experimental electronic music, using live coding and modular synthesis machines to add algorithm-based visuals to the tracks.
The beauty of the Vector Festival is that it asks questions rather than fields answers. Where does an algorithm begin and its writer leave off? If code is creating this piece of art, who is the real artist behind it? And what’s the future of digital art in a world where almost everything we touch is digitally influenced?
Letting out your inner geek shouldn’t just be the domain of Maker Festivals and hackathons. Vector has positioned itself well as a festival of ideas and discussion that will ripple beyond the walls of the exhibition spaces.
Vector Festival runs from Friday to Sunday (July 15 to July 17) at various venues. Find more information here.
