WhiteFeather recently participated in this workshop with Martin Howse, hosted by the Speculative Life Cluster at the Milieux Institute @ Concordia.

“Let the waters above the heavens fall, and the earth will yield its fruit.

Circulation explores the material bases of contemporary media, intervening within cycles of earth-extraction-earth-return in which the minerals which form the material basis of digital technology are pulled from the ground using large-scale industrial processes, eventually to be re-absorbed in the form of e-waste and pollution. The workshop will cross and leak across disciplines of computational culture, logic, geology, alchemy, chemistry and literature.

During the workshop we will discuss, research and conduct practical experiments focussing on material processes involved in extraction (of precious metals for technology) and the dissolution (of technology back into the earth). These experimental situations ask questions about the links between (the) earth and communications/computational technologies. Amongst other actions, participants will: refine silicon and other computational materials from sand obtained from mining sites, culture bacteria involved in processes of acid mine drainage and undertake simple analysis of such matters, undertake the speculative assembly of dissolution-inspired Turing Machines and fluid logic devices.

Circulation forms part of Dissolutions, an artistic research residency and exhibition project initiated by Berlin-based artist Martin Howse, curated by Peter Flemming in collaboration with OBORO and Perte de Signal, with support from the Goethe-Institut Montréal.”

The interdisciplinary work of Martin Howse is pre-occupied with a broad questioning of the exact location of execution and of code within the world (psychogeophysics). Through the construction of experimental situations (within process-driven performance, laboratories, walks, and workshops), material art works and texts, Martin Howse explores the rich links between substance or materials and execution or protocol, excavating issues of visibility and of hiding within the world. Since 1998, Martin Howse has published, workshopped, performed and exhibited worldwide.

More info on the Speculative Life Research Cluster website, here.