IMPACT20—Planetary Alliances

As a scientific and artistic think-tank, IMPACT20 criss-crosses perspectives from biotechnology, natural science, philosophy and contemporary art: Lars Blank, Rosi Braidotti and Johannes Paul Raether reflect on the conditions, metabolisms and relationships between the elements and protagonists on earth and how these impact on ecological, political, economic and technological developments. How can alliances that no longer place humankind at the centre of perception, shape and define new paths towards planetary coexistence?

The symposium, which is taking place both online and at PACT, is made up of two modules: The lectures and talks by and with Lars Blank, Rosi Braidotti and Johannes Paul Raether and the Assembly, during which participants discuss their own projects. The working language is English.
 

Contributors
Prof. Dr. Ing. Lars M. Blank is head of the Institute of Applied Microbiology at the RWTH Aachen University. In his research he focuses on fundamental and applied aspects of microbial metabolism, and in particular on the interaction between the metabolic network and the introduced genetic and environmental perturbations.

As a pioneer of posthumanism and a feminist theorist, Prof. Dr. Rosi Braidotti is a seminal figure in contemporary philosophical discourse. As the boundaries between the human and its others are becoming increasingly blurred, through our digital lives and reproductive technologies, the question of what it means to be human is taking a new turn. Braidotti proposes new and affirmative ways of producing knowledge and building communities.

At the centre of artist Johannes Paul Raether’s work are constructed identities made up of language, technological skins, digital devices and bodies. As artificial aLivfeforms they pervade his BioBody but at the same time detach themselves more and more his "own" identity and address complex topics such as bio and reproduction industries, globalized tourism or occult substances in contemporary technology.

Application requirements
IMPACT20 is aimed at practitioners and theorists from the fields of the performing and visual arts, science, journalism, technology, political activism, social work and architecture. The selection is based on the quality of the submitted applications (CV, outline of Assembly contribution and, where applicable, work samples).

30 applicants will be selected to participate in an intense exchange engaging critically with the contributors and will have exclusive access to the lectures and talks (via Zoom). They are invited to present their own artistic work or research projects within the Assembly and will receive a presentation fee of EUR 250. The working language is English.

If we can facilitate participation through individual support (e.g. audio description, live transcription, simultaneous translation in sign language), we would be happy to clarify our options in a personal consultation and look forward to receiving details in the application form.

Please use our online form to submit your application. Highlight how your own research or projects which you will present in the Assembly connect to the positions proposed by IMPACT20. This year’s edition will be followed by an initiative supporting longer-term research projects by IMPACT participants. You will also find more information and the full schedule of IMPACT20 on our website.

Contact
Juliane Beck, PACT Zollverein, juliane.beck [​at​] pact-zollverein.de, T +49 (0)201 289 4712

A project within the framework of the Alliance of International Production Houses supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. 

The Choreographisches Zentrum NRW Betriebs GmbH is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW and the City of Essen. Tanzlandschaft Ruhr is a Kultur Ruhr GmbH project and is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW.