FoAM - singapore

Toilets have been a source of taboo, embarrassment and humour in many cultures. This project explores the subject of toilets and defecation and aims to bring it out in the open. The intent is to create a cafe which makes toilet discussion a table discussion, thereby giving it legitimacy. ‘WcCafe’ would serve coffee and snacks in an environment which is beautiful, refreshing and purposeful.

In progress: http://libarynth.org/wccafe_report

A Cranky Workshop

maja — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:05:34 +0000

Start: 2008-09-02 13:00 Singapore

End: 2008-09-02 17:00 Singapore

A hands-on workshop involving cranks, solar robots, citrus batteries and the nature of reality for students at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

ASEF IFACCA Mini Summit

maja — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:59:40 +0000

Start: 2008-07-24 10:55 Singapore

End: 2008-07-26 10:55 Singapore

FoAM presentation at the mini-summit on government support for new media arts.

http://www.isea2008singapore.org/conference/conf_forums.html#asef

Luminous Green Panel at ISEA

maja — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:38:56 +0000

Start: 2008-07-30 16:00 GMT+8

End: 2008-07-30 18:00 GMT+8

Electronic Arts in Turbulent Weather

The Luminous Green panel is an open discussion forum, in which we will examine the five themes of ISEA2008 under the lens of environmental and social turbulence.

Which elements of contemporary electronic arts can assist human cultures to adapt to turbulent and uncertain conditions? If we look at the problems of distribution of goods, people and information – can we learn from the robustness of distributed collaboration, so well represented in 'wiki' culture and locative media. Awareness of resource consumption or could greatly enhanced by multi-sensory mixed reality technologies. Gaming culture has a plethora of tools and techniques to engage players in demanding pursuits; some of these techniques can be further developed, to raise awareness and knowledge and action – in a playful, imaginative manner. Climate Chaos is a global problem, which does not recognise national or economic borders. However, our 'global society' is still riddled with border disputes, exclusions and conflicts; perhaps some of the 'open re:source' models from software and electronic arts could offer interesting models for more inclusive trans-local societies, more apt for livining in an environment of turbulence. During the discussion these topics will be examined from multiple points-of-view in order to examine the role we play in the feisty planetary eco-systems.

With: Maggie Buxton, Brian Degger, Nik Gaffney, Liesbeth Huybrechts, Maja Kuzmanovic, Marko Peljhan, Andrea Polli, Angelo Vermeulen and others...

http://www.isea2008singapore.org/conference/conf_panels.html#maja

ISEA 2008

maja — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:32:21 +0000

Start: 2008-07-25 18:00 Singapore

End: 2008-07-30 18:00 Singapore

Conference participation, including paper presentation "Cursory Speculations on HPI (Human Plant Interaction)" by Maja Kuzmanovic and Nik Gaffney.

http://www.isea2008singapore.org/

Events

_pix — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:55:07 +0000

FoAM and its collaborators see public events as ways to disseminate our work, meet new people, as well as provide exposure to people and ideas we respect.

We present our work to international conferences, exhibitions and festivals. These activities are scalable interventions - from a lecture given by one of FoAM's collaborators, to a full-grown responsive environment, tended to by a whole team. We prefer to tailor our public events on an individual basis, allowing us to work in a site- and context specific manner.

We invite people into our FoAM-labs, to present what they think and do, in a format that suits them. We structure events in various event series, each of which has a different focus, format and audience. We also encourage surprising one-off events, which refresh both us and our audiences. Most events at FoAM are total experiences, usually involving thematic spatial design, food and drinks. The events are reminiscent of 19th century artistic Salons, intimate get-togethers, where all participants have a chance to meet all others, learn something new, immerse themselves in an inspiring atmosphere, enjoy a bite, a sip and a conversation. In a time when people in public spaces are considered either as consumers, or potential threats, FoAM's public events function as temporary autonomous zones.

Event Calendar / / Event Timeline

LIREC

nik — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:48:42 +0000

LIREC aims to establish a multi-faceted theory of artificial long-term companions (including memory, emotions, cognition, communication, learning, etc.), embody this theory in robust and innovative technology and experimentally verify both the theory and technology in real social environments.

Whether as robots, social toys or graphical and mobile synthetic characters, interactive and sociable technology is advancing rapidly. However, the social, psychological and cognitive foundations and consequences of such technological artefacts entering our daily lives - at work, or in the home - are less well understood. The technology is commonly based on evaluation of short-term interactions or even first encounters, and limited to one specific embodiment. Research shows that the novelty effect, which may attract interest in the first encounter, quickly runs out and that people’s preferences and attitudes towards the system change.

Successful technology can only be delivered on the basis of strong scientific foundations, and with partners in psychology, ethology, human-computer interaction, human-robot interaction, robotics and graphical characters, LIREC will advance understanding of the concepts of embodiment, autobiographic memory and social interactions in the context of companions where the ‘mind’ might migrate to differently embodied ‘bodies’.

Experimental human-human and human-animal studies and longitudinal evaluation of the developed technology in social settings will support the development and delivery of mechanisms for verbal and non-verbal social interaction and communication; an autobiographic emotionally-tagged memory; mechanisms for detecting and responding sensitively to the user’s affective state, motives and intentions; an autonomous cognitive-affective architecture and support for migrating companions. These will be combined in case-studies of long-life companions that will take social technology to a new state-of-the-art.

http://lirec.org/

Network

nik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:44:35 +0000

[foam]'s network is composed of individuals, collectives, organisations and institutions, who we collaborate with on various aspects of our activities. The network gains its stability from long-term relationships, while the new, or temporary nodes provide the flexibility and dynamics. The resilience of the network lies in its diversity - its nodes vary in size, geographic position, expertise and resources.

Friends and collaborators. past, present and future

Adam Hyde, Adrian Cheok, Adrian Hon, Alejo Duque, Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino, Alkan Chipperfield, Allison Zinder, Alok Nandi, Amy Franceschini, Ana Rewakowicz, Andrea Polli, Angelo Vermeulen, Ann Barcomb, Ann Light, Annemie Maes, Anthony Pateras, Bart Vandeput, Ben Gimpert, Ben Russel, Biba Vickovic, Brian Degger, Brian McClave, Bunker Roy, Camila Valenzuela, Carole Collet, Caroline Daish, Chris Salter, Christina Della Giustina, Christoph De Boeck, Chuck Varga, Code31, Daina Tamina, David De Rotschild, David Griffiths, Dirk De Wit, Douglas Brew, Dylan Krasevac, Edith Doove, Edwin van de Heide, Emily Kusaite, Eric Parys, Femke Snelting, Francesca Da Rimini, Franziska Huebler, Gaëtan Robillard, Gert Aartsen, Gert Brantner, Goran Kuzmanovic, Greet Vanderheiden, Grey Filastine, Guy Van Belle, Hanne De Nil, Hans De Man, Heath Bunting, Hendrik Leper, Hervé Gouget, Honor Harger, Infernal Noise Brigade, Ionat Zurr, Isabel Rocamora, Isabelle Coppet, Jack Anderson, Jasmijn Snoojink, Jean-Noël Montagné, Jennifer Leonard, Jenny Tillotson, Jim Ruxton, Jo Vernaillen, Joanna Berzowska, Joel Ryan, John Hartley, John Wojteczowski, Jonah Bruckner-Cohen, Joris Bois, Julian Oliver, Julie Vandenbroucke, Karmen Franinovic, Kate Rich, Katherine Moriwaki, Kayle Brandon, Kirsty Kitto, Kobe Matthys, Kristina Andersen, Laura Colmenares Guerra, Leif Elggren, Liesbeth Huybrechts, Linda Karlsson, Lizbeth Goodman, Lucas Chirnside, Maggie Buxton, Maki Ueda, Marcelo Coelho, Margo De Koster, Maria Blaisse, Mark Harwood, Marko Peljhan, Matthew Fuller, Matthias Gmachl, Mette Ramsgard Thompsen, Michael Waisvisz, Mike Harding, Mike Longhurst, Mitchel Whitelaw, Myriel Milicevic, Nat Muller, Nathan Grey, Oliver Lowenstein, Olu Vandenbussche, Oron Katz, Oswald Berthold, Pablo Diartinez, Patrick De Kooning, Peter Heremans, Peter van Hoesen, Phillipe Langlois, Pieter de Wel, Rachael Tempest, Rachel Wingfield, Randall Krantz, Rasa Alksnyte, Regine Debatty, Rob Wilton, Rob van Kranenburg, Robin Fox, Roos Smith, Ruben Bus, Sabine Seymour, Sanjeev Shankar, Sara Nuytemans, Sha Xin Wei, Sher Doruff, Sia Kyriakakos, Sneha Solanki, Sonia Cillari, Srinivasan Soundara Rajan (Vasu), Stefan Magdalinski, Stephen Barras, Steven Pickles (Pix), Stevie Wishart, Suzanne Bentley, Tale of Tales (Auriea Harvey & Michael Samyn), Tapio Makela, Teis Draiby, Theo Botschuiver, Timesup, Tim Boykett, Tim Rottiers, Tina Auer, Tina Gonsalves, Toby Borland, Todor Todoroff, Tom Heene, Tom Schouten, Vahida Ramujkic, Vali Lalioti, Veronique Daussy, Wietske Maas, Xin Wei Sha, Yon Visell and others...

Want to get involved?

There are many ways in which people can get involved with [foam]. By adding new 'bubbles' into the mix, [foam] remains locally dynamic, while becoming increasingly globally resilient preparation. You can join us on one of our public events. If you have a problem, or a question, contact our advice centre. You can present and discuss your ongoing projects during one of our monthly Research Gatherings. You can participate in our workshops, become a temporary resident, intern, or a more permanent collaborator. To begin with, you can drop us an email on info (at) f0 (dot) am. We're looking forward to hearing from you...

Grow your own Worlds

nik — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:06:45 +0000

mission

FoAM is committed to growing inclusive, resilient and abundant worlds. We do this by providing a context and a structure to research, design and reflect on transdisciplinary creative practices. By seeking out and connecting people in the interstitial spaces between professional and cultural boundaries, we are smoothing the way for a community of ‘generalists’. This diverse community enables its members to tackle complex challenges, in the cultural, as well as technological environments. While facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, or mixing digital and physical realities, FoAM steers the creative practices towards ethically and environmentally sustainable practices. Our motto, ‘grow your own worlds’ alludes to our mission; to move from wasteful consumption and mindless dependence to responsible participation in all aspects of our lives.

core principles

All FoAM activites are derived from three sets of core principles. [1] FoAM should, through all its activities, foster interdependence between people and their disciplines through transdisciplinary collaboration. We believe that the world is an intricate tangle of realities, which cannot be understood by hacking it into a heap of single issues. By collaborating with various disciplines, we believe that we can better grasp the world in its elegant complexity. [2] Our actions and their outcomes should nourish our cultural and natural environment, as well as sustain ourselves. This can only be accomplished if we foster a culture of sharing, rather than commodifying, where prosperity doesn’t equal property. FoAM is therefore an avid supporter of open-source and copy-left movements, advocating the view that free access to resources stimulates collective creativity and innovation. [3] Working with a diversity of people and sharing resources allows us to discover new things and be amazed by the world on a daily basis. We cherish this curios approach to the world, spicing it up with a hint of irreverence, playfulness and humility.

vision

We live in a world whose social, environmental and economic systems are fundamentally out of balance. From education to politics, from science to arts, cultivation and culture, most these systems today are based on segregation, reductionism and homogeneity. We see a world, not too far in the future, in which building bridges between separate disciplines, cultures and beliefs will become not only a desired talent, but an essential survival skill. Once the bridges are built, we can work together to design a fairer and greener world, that can thrive on interdependence and diversity. Amidst turbulent climate, wasteful consumerism and xenophobic security measures, FoAM is a haven for people who are committed to finding creative solutions to these intricate problems.

organisation

As with foam (the preparation), FoAM (the group) is a dynamic entity, able to change shape and scale as required. We can be a transdisciplinary organisation in the morning, a tightly knit family at lunchtime, a learning facility in the afternoon, a loose bunch of philosophers in the evening and a dedicated designers collective by night. Most of our activities occur in FoAM-Labs, our trans-local bases; hybrids between research laboratories and creative studios. FoAM-Labs are designed to encourage reciprocal exchanges of ideas, techniques and experiences. We are organised as a distributed laboratory, with bases and nodes (people, projects and partner-organisations) spread across the globe. This distributed structure allows us to keep the bases (FoAM-Labs) as small and flexible organisations able to incubate and spawn experimental initiatives, while the network can support and develop activities on larger scales.

activities

FoAM develops its activities in a layered structure, as long-term initiatives, yearly thematic projects and short term experiments. This structure allows us to touch on 'burning issues' as they arise, as well as be engaged in projects concerned with slower, long term tendencies. Our activities can be loosely categorised as [1] research and creation, [2] education and learning, [3] dissemination and archiving. In diverse teams of generalists and specialists, we research and create experimental situations, responsive environments, active materials, generative media, culinary performances and other forms of participatory culture. We encourage shared learning and development, by facilitating workshops and hosting public events. We disseminate accumulated knowledge in co-authored publications, on-line and on-site libraries and archives. We are equally inspired by sciences and arts, nature and culture, engineering and design, physical and digital, upholding the values of complexity and whole systems thinking. We create hybrid realities by infusing knowledge with imagination and routine with magic.