stedelijk @ oude lutherse kerk - future tech - amber case and manuel delanda
wed 07 december 20:00

Location: Oude Lutherse Kerk, Singel 411 (corner Spui), Amsterdam
Time: 8:00 – 10:30 pm
Language: English

On Wednesday, December 7th the first event in the lecture series Facing Forward: Art & Theory from a Future Perspective will take place, on the theme of Future Tech. The speakers of this evening are cyborg anthropologist Amber Case (USA) and Mexican-American writer and philosopher Manuel DeLanda (USA). Following the two lectures, there will be a debate with experts and the public, moderated by Margriet Schavemaker (NL), head of collections and research at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Floor van Spaendonck (NL) will provide an introduction statement.

In modern society, two ideas vie for priority: a strong belief in technological progress and an established suspicion about the consequences of technology for society and the condition of mankind. As a result of the development of computers and mobile technology, our lives have become profoundly intertwined with, or possibly even governed by, machines which are concurrently praised and feared. If science and technology continue to develop as rapidly as they have in the past fifty years, what will the relationship between men and women and machines be in the future? Will the posthuman condition, described, among others, by Donna Haraway and Katherine Hayles, become reality, or will the cultural consequences of technological development stagnate in the next few decades?

The future mainly appears to lie in the blurring between the artificial and the real; from genetics to augmented reality, the "natural" world is combined with a created world. How will the continued interrelationship of these combined realities influence our collective condition? And what role will they play in the development of art?

About Facing Forward: Art & Theory from a Future Perspective

The Facing Forward series consists of seven lecture and debate evenings addressing urgent themes that together envision possible futures for contemporary art and theory, offering innovative models and strategies for today's artistic practices.

For the full program, more information on the topics, speakers, and ticket sales, as well as information regarding the workshops, please visit our website www.facingforward.nl. Also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Practical information

Language: All lecture evenings will be held in English.
Tickets: The entrance fee is €10 per evening when you a buy a ticket in advance at www.facingforward.nl; €12,50 at the door. Special rates apply to students and Friends of the Stedelijk Museum. For more information, please check our website.
Location: Oude Lutherse Kerk, Spui 411 (corner Spui), Amsterdam.
Media partner: De Groene Amsterdammer
Editorial board: Jelle Bouwhuis (SMBA), Ann Demeester (de Appel arts centre), Hendrik Folkerts (Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam), Christoph Lindner (ASCA, University of Amsterdam), Domeniek Ruyters (Metropolis M), Margriet Schavemaker (Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam), and Tim Voss (W139).

Facing Forward was made possible by the generous support of the Mondriaan Fund, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, and SNS Reaal Fund.