Somerset House Studios invites (A)WAKE to curate a one-day programme of discussions and performances bringing new perspectives on the social, political and cultural impacts of technology as experienced by artists, researchers and storytellers - creating space for in-between, multi-layered identities.
Although its rational and mechanical character might give another impression, technology is essentially never neutral. In fact, it often reproduces power structures, from biased surveillance technologies, to 'decentralized' technologies centered in the English language and digital algorithmic systems that support oppression. Finding Loopholes in the www Land of the Oppressed takes these issues as an opportunity to dismantle inequality and build positive new worlds within the digital space.
Representing the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) diasporic communities perspective, (A)WAKE creates space for in-between and multi-layered identities. Considering the barriers between race and technology, taking into account particularities such as navigating in landscapes of war and conflict, access to proper Wi-Fi, and the lack of Arabic translations and/or censoring of Arabic languages, (A)WAKE share artistic examples and alternative ways of dismantling and reclaiming narratives of oppression and injustice.
With contributions from artists and researchers Ahaad Alamoudi, Isshaq Albarbary, Miriyam Aouragh, Rayan Elnayal, Salim Bayri and Romy Gad el Rab across an afternoon programme that sees conversations span the influence of digitalisation in Palestine, algorithm swapping, and the potential of escape routes within the digital black hole. Finding Loopholes in the www Land of the Oppressed is rounded off with an evening music programme headed up by cultural curator/ producer, sound designer and DJ Sarra Wild plus a live AV performance from producer Cheb Runner (Reda Senhaji). Accompanied by interactive visuals from multimedia artist Salim Bayri, the duo present Angry Immigrant, an hour-long live-show of ten compositions; each track representing a year as an immigrant in Brussels.
Curated by (A)WAKE with support of Romy Gad el Rab.