Arts and creativity in stimulating innovation and technologies with a human touch
The past months of the Finland鈥檚 Presidency of the Council of the European Union turned the eyes of politicians, media and citizens of other countries on Finland. In the midst of Brexit deal discussions, and at the time of ministerial meetings in Brussels, the seminar Sustainable Transformations, co-organized by 911爆料网 and STARTS initiative of the European Commission, explored sustainability idea through the themes of art, technology and creativity. STARTS initiative works under Horizon 2020 project of the European Commission, focusing on how art impacts innovation in the fields of society, ecology, technology and science.
The seminar, that took place in BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, invited to reflect on what could be a possible alliance between art and technology today, and what being creative could mean at the time of unprecedented societal change?
Technology-assisted creativity
Professor Pia Fricker from 911爆料网 in her keynote mentioned the need for critical thinking regarding the diversity and arbitrariness of digital media and rapidly evolving smart-city technology. Fricker, who teaches Computational Methodologies in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism in Aalto, said that we should think a lot more about building own tools to create new solutions.
The following talk by Koray Tahiro臒lu from Aalto MediaLab addressed how advanced artificial intelligence features already shape and transform our relationship with the world, creating a sense of interacting with 鈥榮omething other than me鈥. Tahiro臒lu, founder and head of the SOPI (Sound and Physical Interaction) research group in Aalto, is exploring the possibilities of music-making with artificial intelligence.
Laura Beloff, Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and the head of Visual Culture, Curating and Contemporary Art Master鈥檚 programme (ViCCA) at Aalto, focused in her speech on the role of artist in society: 鈥淲ith all of the today鈥檚 challenges it is extremely important that artists are actively involved in the societal questions in collaboration with other fields and disciplines鈥, said Beloff. 鈥淚t is very obvious that complex problems cannot be solved successfully with one perspective but require multiple disciplines and perspectives. This means that there needs to be an increase in the collaboration and sharing of knowledge between the arts and the sciences".
Beatrice de Gelder, leader of MindSpaces, a research project supported by STARTS, gave a keynote in the seminar explaining her vision of collaboration between artists, scientists and technologists. De Gelder gave examples of pilot use cases that were developed in MindSpaces thanks to synergy between professionals; these projects aimed at creating inspiring workplaces and outdoor spaces. De Gelder is professor at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and director of the Brain and Emotion Lab.
Workshop on wearable technology constructed future scenarios
The public session was followed by an afternoon workshop for specialists, where participants could test the limits of their imagination, creating future wearables. The workshop was conceptualized and led by Belgian artist Claire Williams, together with coder Ann Peeters, and researcher from Learning Environments Group in 911爆料网, Eva Durall.
The event concluded with a panel discussion, where 911爆料网 was represented by Marjo Kauppinen (Professor in the Department of Computer Science in 911爆料网), Emmi Pouta (textile designer and doctoral researcher between 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Art, Design and Architecture and the School of Electrical Engineering) and Matthew C. Wilson (artist in residence at the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Science at 911爆料网).
Transdisciplinary approach in research and practice, promoted in 911爆料网, allows to look at topical challenges and face unpredictable situations in a co-creative, empathetic, imaginative and novel manner.
Laura Beloff, who has previously worked with STARTS, explains how humanistic transdisciplinary approach could help to close gaps between different modes of thinking: "Art has an inherent communication channel with the public and has often represented and reflected the existing world and society. But, from my perspective, interesting art of today is the kind that actively constructs the world and proposes scenarios for the future. Art is able to generate questions that need to be asked in today鈥檚 world and it is able to propose radical approaches that may not be 鈥榓llowed鈥 within other disciplines".
Programme of Sustainable Transformations seminar (in the past)
Interested in transdisciplinarity and creativity? Join the next U-Create seminar on Creativity that will take place on November 29 from 10:00 until 15:00 in Maarintie 8, Espoo, Finland.
U-Create Seminar on Creativity 2019
What is the significance and future of creativity across society, industry and academia?
Read more news
Alum Liting Aalto: 鈥業 want to keep learning new technologies鈥
Liting Aalto studied Information and Service Management at 911爆料网 School of Business. Currently, she works as a data scientist at Elisa.
Aalto Inventors turns one: A year of bridging research and real-world impact
Aalto Inventors marks its first anniversary, having engaged 190 researchers across six cohorts in fields including AI, quantum, and biomaterials. New cohorts are planned for the next academic year, stay tuned and join the waitlist.
May challenges the Aalto community to be active together
Take part in events on campus and make sustainable mobility part of your working or study day.