Created in 2008, Transdigital is a European project bringing together six cultural institutions based in Flanders, Wallonia and Northern France (Le Vooruit, Lemanège.mons, TechnocITé, Le Fresnoy – studio national des arts contemporains, Latitudes Contemporaines and Le Manège Maubeuge), as well as research centres and companies from the cross-border region. This far-reaching project’s ambition is, in short, to unite companies, innovative organisations and research platforms around technologically innovative and performing arts.
The ambition is to unite innovative companies and research organisations around the performing arts. Not that the former serve the latter, or vice versa, but on the contrary to stimulate research, innovation and artistic creation. The platform’s objective is to increase its members’ visibility and their exchange of knowledge by building a structural network between artists, scientists and the technological sector. In common with distinguished predecessors such as the 9 Evenings, who in 1966 worked with ten leading artists (including John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, Bob Whitman, Yvonne Rainer etc.) and thirty engineers from the world renowned Bell labs to create groundbreaking performances – we believe that art, science and industry can be mutually enriching if they are provided with conditions of dialogue and conversation.
And what better way is there to encourage dialogue and conversation than a good meal? This observation led to a very simple, yet no less effective and joyful idea: arrange a seminar for artists, scientists and entrepreneurs and invite them to prepare dinner together. This new publication – “Transdigital CookBook” – whose title is a reference to these improvised banquets, is intended to carry on the debates begun at the meeting. It includes articles on presentations, summarises the artistic and scientific developments that have resulted from these initial contacts, and contains news about collaborations between artists and engineers. The DVD, and the visual tags offering instant links to the Internet with a mobile phone, provide further information and paths to explore.
The Transdigital team
“Objects are perfect tragic heroes” – interview with artist and director Kris Verdonck, by Jozefien Van Beek.
From Projected Drawing to “Immersed Participants”, a progressive exploration of CREW.
Eric Joris interviewed by Cyril Thomas.
Is You Me resembles a dive into the aesthetical and formal concerns of Benoît Lachambre - a choreographer, dancer and teacher who has now been working for thirty years.