ODI Data Art Commissions
MzTEK is excited to have been invited to manage The Open Data Institute’s data-as-culture art commissions for their launch.
The UK’s groundbreaking Open Data Institute (ODI), an independent organisation led by Gavin Starks, and founded by Professors Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Nigel Shadbolt, is formally launching later this year.
In curating the showcase for the ODI we wanted to selected a range of works that would not just reflect different data sources, but works that would challenge our understanding of what data is, and how data may affect and reflect our lives. We were privileged in the breadth of content and the quality of the work that was submitted as part of the open call, allowing for scope to select works that could comment on, complement and challenge perceptions of data in a coherent collection. The works range from geo-magnetic data visualisations to wall painted cellular automata to tabloid newspapers of search term trend graphs – tangible interventions into the mass accretion of data around us.
Semiconductor’s 20Hz (2011)
We hope the exhibition provokes discussion around what open data is, how it informs and affects us and how we interpret it in a way that is meaningful.
Find out more about the commissioned Artists and the Artworks.
The ODI is a collaboration between leading businesses and entrepreneurs, universities and researchers, government and civil society to unlock enterprise and social value from the vast amount of Open Data now being made accessible. As a collaborative, dynamic space which will host a diverse range of innovators, we are aiming for the commissioned artwork to give visual momentum to the environment, by bringing the space alive and inspiring new perspectives on Open Data.
The selected works, reflect data from the ODI’s focus on value: which can be social, economic, and/or environmental. Data can be real-time or static, collected from personal or local sensors (e.g. heart-rate, movement, transport systems) or online global sources (e.g. stock market fluctuations, air pollution, population demographics). We are interested in work that represents change, movement, and fluctuation in data in innovative ways, abstractly or literally.
Further Information
The ODI has engaged MzTEK to manage this exciting commissioning process. MzTEK is a non-profit organisation with the aim of addressing the imbalance of women artists working in the fields of new media, computer arts, and technology.
As an equal opportunity organisation The ODI welcomes applications from all artists, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, marital status, sexuality, age or disability. Our offices are accessible. Please complete our equality questionnaire with your submission to help us monitor diversity of artists working in this area.
The ODI reserves the right to commission work directly should the number or quality of entries be insufficient.
