MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH: Gonzomechanics | Kunstfest Weimar

MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH (MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN)
GONZOMECHANICS
VERNISSAGE: 24. August, 2024, 6 pm / 18 Uhr
Stockwerk e.V.
24 August -  6 September, 2024
(Wed. - Sat. Sa, 4 - 7 pm)

The project MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH (More Human Than Human) by Gonzomechanics aims to promote cultural exchange and diversity using the experiences of local communities and their stories to alter artificial intelligence (and therefore humanity). In short, using technology to become better humans.

Gonzomechanics is an international artist collective consisting of Caitlin Pickall, Chen Hangfeng, Kathryn Gohmert, Gökçen Dilek Acay and Laurent Lettrée, founded by artist Kathryn Gohmert. With a focus on interactive machines and installations, Gonzomechanics develops new forms of behavior and thought that result from viewer participation with its inventions. 

During Kunstfest Weimar 2024, Gonzomechanics presents its first public project at Stockwerk Weimar and holds a series of events involving the local community. Through workshops and interactive performances, Gonzomechanics collects stories and experiences, using them as a starting point to subsequently diversify AI. In MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH, Gonzomechanics seeks to improve the world by using technology to enhance more empathy for other people and more visibility for the stories of the marginalized. 

Gonzomechanics wants to destabilize the current trend of war by finding a way to create more understanding and connection between people using their art as a catalyst.

This project was generously funded by Kulturdirektion Weimar with cooperation from Lebenshilfe Weimar.

(DE)

Das Projekt MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH (MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN) des Kollektiv Gonzomechanics soll kulturellen Austausch und Vielfalt fördern, in dem es die Erfahrungen lokaler Gemeinschaften und ihrer Geschichten nutzt, um künstliche Intelligenz (und damit die Menschheit) zu verändern.

In MEHR MENSCH ALS MENSCH versucht Gonzomechanics die Welt zu verbessern, indem es Technologie einsetzt, um bestimmte menschliche Qualitäten des Kollektivs zu verbessern: mehr Empathie für andere Menschen und mehr Sichtbarkeit für die Geschichten der Ausgegrenzten. Gonzomechanics will den aktuellen Trend zum Krieg destabilisieren, indem wir einen Weg finden, durch unsere Kunst mehr Verständnis und Verbindung zwischen den Menschen zu schaffen.

Gonzomechanics ist ein internationales Künstler*innenkollektiv bestehend aus Caitlin Pickall, Kathryn Gohmert, Chen Hangfeng, Gökçen Dilek Acay und Laurent Lettrée, gegründet von der Künstlerin Kathryn Gohmert. Mit dem Schwerpunkt auf interaktiven Maschinen und Installationen entwickelt Gonzomechanics neue Formen des Verhaltens und Denkens, die sich aus der Beteiligung des Betrachters an seinen Erfindungen ergeben.

Dieses Projekt wird dankenswerterweise von der Kulturdirektion Weimar gefördert.

New Gonzomechanics Artists | *LLND

Gonzomechanics is thrilled to add French artist team *LLND to our collective. We are looking forward to collaborating together and showing more of their interactive work in our upcoming projects. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

*LLND is an international media artist team merging sound, image and matter in an approach that combines physical reality, science, myth, technology, and real time. *LLND stands for the initials of Laurent Lettrée and Nathalie Delpech, who have been based in Shanghai, China since 2009.⁣⁣

Nathalie’s video and graphic art are a poetic meeting of the psychedelic and surrealism. With strong colours and forms borrowed from a revisited reality, she gives life to inanimate objects.⁣⁣ Laurent is composer and self-taught electronic machinery builder. He explores sound and its multiple frequencies and rhythmic variations.⁣⁣

Image of ‘Music Garden’ installation, Shanghai, 2019.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Gökçen Dilek Acay | DIE KONFERENZ DER TIERE

Special congratulations to Gonzomechanic Gökçen Dilek Acay for winning the 2021 thüringen Landesstipendium für Bildende Kunst!

Her solo show DIE KONFERENZ DER TIERE opens next week, 30.4 , at Galerie Eigenheim Berlin with an online vernissage at 19 Uhr. DIE KONFERENZ DER TIERE runs until 29.05.2021.

see more of Dilek’s work on the gonzomechanics website.

New Gonzomechanics Artist | Chen Hangfeng

Gonzomechanics is pleased to add artist, Chen Hangfeng, to our artist collective. Look for more of Hangfeng's interactive work in our upcoming projects this year.

Image from installation, 'Where the Wind Comes From', 2010.⁣

Image from installation, 'Where the Wind Comes From', 2010.⁣

“‘Where the Wind Comes From’ explores the museumification of traditional culture – which has become more of a specimen of observation rather than a living, breathing part of contemporary Chinese culture. In this way, it seems the Chinese traditional culture can only come alive when we engage with it – read the classics, study poems or practice calligraphy. Without the presence of our gaze it becomes lifeless and still.

When the viewer comes close to this work, a motion sensor sets a number of fans into action, causing the plastic bamboo leaves to rustle in the wind. A “fake” traditional Chinese painting in fact revives the spirit of traditional gardens in the middle of a bustling street, which reflects on our own temporary presence as a “wind” stirring this changing society.”

Chen Hangfeng (1974) works in graphic, paper-cut, drawing, painting, installation, performance, photography and video. His practice has been focusing on film and moving images since 2010. His work deals with the issues of identity, contradictions brought by globalization, environmental changes and cultural transmutation; often realized through playful metaphor, and he merge concepts and mediums like an alchemist. He sees artist as a present-day incarnation of ancient philosopher, artisan and literati.

Chen currently works and lives between Shanghai and Amsterdam. He will become a researcher at the Master Program of Netherlands Film Academy from September 2021. 

more about hangfeng’s work.