Access Modes Exhibition of Graduates of ITMO’s Master’s Program in Art & Science

We invite you to Access Modes, the first exhibition of graduates of ITMO’s Master’s program in Art & Science that will take place on September 19 – October 11, 2020. The exhibition will take place at ITMO’s new AIR (Art.ITMO.Residency) space. 

Access modes is a term used by philosopher Timothy Morton to describe the ways we interact with objects. Objects here are used in their phenomenological sense – it is anything, any subject or phenomenon together with their connections. 

Access modes include cutting, consuming, thinking, ignoring, photographing, hitting with a hammer, drawing, storytelling, studying with a microscope, splitting to pieces, accelerating in a collider, describing in scientific terms, collecting statistical data and any other forms of interaction. In day-to-day life people strive to “tame” the objects and neutralize them, they notice them only when they break or behave abnormally… 

Artists taking part in the exhibition come from four cities in Russia and from Mexico – and from many different fields, from history to optics, microbiology and oil and gas engineering. Thus, each of them got through to their object by using their own unique set of access modes and using their connections to these objects. The exhibition is curated by Artur Konstantinov. 

You can see the exhibition for free from 12 pm-9 pm daily (except Mondays and Tuesdays), and each day (7 pm Wed-Fri, 6 pm Sat-Sun) you can join an art-mediator on a tour of the exhibition to learn more about the works and get insights into the curator’s idea. 

The artists and their projects

Chudo-Polyana 2.0 (“Wonder Meadow 2.0”)

Alena Koroleva and Marta Mikhailova (art group BIOROBOTY 019) 

This is an interactive installation that creates a space for unhindered interaction between the visitors and five plant species that face the threat of extinction from the actual “Wonder Meadow” located in Gatchina. Here, the species is open to communication letting go of its “endangered” status, while the visitors can choose their own mode of interaction with the installation. 

Krasnoyarsk 

Victoria Romanova (art group BIOROBOTY 019)

This exhibit centers around a mysterious optical device found in one of ITMO’s laboratories, and no one seemed to have its complete story to share. This lack of answers and understanding inspired the artist to ponder on her own destiny and life, as she processes her experiences in this original piece. 

Physarum the Fortuneteller

Svetlana Sidorova 

This project is a love-child of a collaboration between programmers and artists with a physarum polycephalum, a unique organism with non-human intelligence, at its core. It will scan your palm and face to tell your fortune – a number of personalized recommendations – based on biometrical data and machine learning algorithms. 

Athena 

Ethan Avila 

The world turns upside down in this exhibit, as the mighty Greek goddess becomes dependent on likes and comments on her Instagram page. A comment on today’s society or a reimagining of age-long legends? You decide. 

Pondering on history 

Ethan Avila 

Generative-adversarial neural networks make ancient Greek statues come alive in this one, where the artist reflects on the images that shaped his artistic vision. 

Touchless 

Laura Rodriguez 

Created in social isolation, this project invites us to consider the intricate interactions of photons and other particles that our bodies get into every day. It is based on research of new synthetic materials and raises the question of being able to feel the touch of someone even if you are apart. Using peculiar interaction between flasks of bacterial cellulose, the artist was able to “transmit” somatosensations from one person to another, illustrating the new norm of the COVID-19 pandemic.