Age of Wonderland 2016

October 17, 2016

At the invitation of Age of Wonderland six artists, designers and other creatives (from Africa, Asia and Latin America) will have a close look at the relationship between big and open data, technology, economy and social innovations. In cooperation with Dutch professionals, they are researching and developing ideas and scenarios surrounding big data, and will present their work during the Dutch Design Week (22 – 30 October) in an exhibition and workshops.

Hivos aims to innovate for social change by implementing smart projects in the right places. For the third consecutive year, Hivos, Baltan Laboratories and Dutch Design Week have worked in close partnership to create a high impact collaboration of creative thinkers in the Age of Wonderland programme, working with innovators who bring great ideas and new solutions.

This programme is based on the idea that innovation is not possible without creativity. To this end, Age of Wonderland encourages the exchange of knowledge between thinkers, makers, innovators and doers from Latin America, Asia and Africa. Key ingredients of the programme are residencies, presentations, local follow-ups, knowledge production and product development. The ultimate goal is to find solutions to persistent global problems.

Edition 2016: ‘Big Data. Big DADA?’

Big data or big dada? That is the question. How can big and open data be a tool for social innovation worldwide? Where does its potential lie, what are its limits and pitfalls? The six designers, researchers and scientists who have been invited by Age of Wonderland’s 2016 to share their perspectives on big and open data include cosmic Mayan knowledge ambassador Branly López (Guatemala), user-friendly software developer Budi Prakosa (Indonesia) and app-developer Ng’winula ‘Unu’ Kingamkono (Tanzania).

During Dutch Design Week you can learn more about their research and meet them in person during the seminar ‘The Big Data/Dada Dialogues’ and at several workshops and lectures. Starting from 26 September, Natlab in Eindhoven will function as their temporary atelier.

Branly López (Mexico) is the director of Cuidad de la Imagination (City of Imagination), a laboratory of design, Mayan philosophy and art. He sees the ancient Mayan knowledge of his country as open (and free) cosmic data, ready to unlock. To explore it, he has teamed up with artist and mathematician Masha Ru and Tzolkin (or Cholq’ij) calendar expert Tjitse Boersma. Branly has also researched brain activity during meditation with artist and writer Louwrien Wijers and cognitive neuroscientist Jacob Jolij.

Budi Prakosa (Indonesia) is co-founder of Lifepatch, a citizen initiative in art, science and technology. He develops user-friendly software that allows anyone to build their own databases and exchange data with each other. He will supply his co-fellows with the data base software they need for their projects. Budi is an industrial engineer with an interest in experimental audio-visual performances, generative art and web technology.

Ng’winula ‘Unu’ Kingamkono (Tanzania) works as an app-developer and is involved in the Buni Innovation Hub in Dar es Salaam, which discovers, nurtures and mentors youths with innovative technological solutions to move Tanzania forward.

He focuses on data collection to improve the transport system in Dar es Salaam. With this information, he wants to show the local government how it is their responsibility to improve the infrastructure of the city. During his residency, Unu has continued his research in Eindhoven together with students of the Fontys FutureMediaLab and Design Academy Eindhoven.

The Big Data/Dada Dialogues

On Monday 24 October from 19.30 to 21.30 in Natlab, The Big Data/Dada Dialogues will take a closer look at big and open data from different perspectives. Guest speakers are Arne Hendriks (artist and curator Age of Wonderland), Dr. Julia Hoffmann (Programme Development Manager Transparency and Accountability at Hivos) and Nishant Shah (dean of Research at ArtEZ and professor at the Institute of Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media at Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany). Our fellows will also be there. This event will be moderated by Lennart Booij, curator of Stedelijk Museum, art historian, television producer and presenter.