[-empyre-] ambiguous artistic strategies & critical engineering

[Gabriel Menotti]

Hey!

> my first area of study was the electronics, and I
> think that today this has much influence on what I have written and on my
> experimental projects. [César Baio]

Being fascinated by the way some programmers write about software, I’d
be very curious to see what kind of insights this technical background
provides to your research. Are these overt influences or more subtle
ones? Could you please give some examples – either theoretical or
empirical?

Also, do you see some coherence in the way you move from one field to another?


> I'm interested in if
> and how artistic practice can reformulate the concept of technology making
> their production and use more accessible, how are different (and ambiguous)
> the strategies that the artist uses [CB]

Julian Oliver’s appeal for a “critical engineering” comes to mind here
(there was a debate about it on empyre on July ’11, moderated by Simon
and Magnus). Do you think there is anything particular in artistic
practice that allow it to employ ambiguous strategies, or would these
strategies be within the reach of anyone – such as academic
researchers or technicians? Otherwise, shouldn’t they?

Best!
Menotti