In the framework of the European STARTS in the City residencies program, artist David Claerbout is selected for the residency Reclaiming our agency. This highly collaborative residency is hosted by GLUON and Innoviris with the support of Proximus Ada and the National Lottery. In collaboration with a regional network of industry partners, companies, knowlegde centers and research institutions, David Claerbout will explore the interplay between online algorithms, recommender systems, and our mental well—being.
Project description
The application for the “Reclaiming Our Agency” call, in collaboration with Proximus ADA, seamlessly builds upon David’s enduring exploration of trust systems. Approximately a decade ago, he embarked on a study that culminated in the term “Dark Optics.” This conceptual framework delves into our trust relationship with images, shedding light on the potential crises stemming from a confidence breakdown. The erosion of our confidence in photographic images, and its far-reaching implications for perception, cognition, as well as the consequential political, social, and even mental challenges, has emerged as a central theme in both his reflections and artistic pursuits. Examples of this thematic exploration can be found in works such as “The Close” and “Aircraft (F.A.L.).”
About the artist
David Claerbout (b. 1969) is an internationally acclaimed artist working in the realm of new media art. Having created his first videos in the mid-1990s, his artistic practice has transitioned since the early 2000s into synthetic image-making situated at the intersection of photography, film, and digital art. Claerbout has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions internationally, including: Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2005); Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (2007); Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen, Switzerland (2008); De Pont Museum of Contemporary Art, Tilburg, The Netherlands (2009) and (2016); SFMOMA, San Francisco; WIELS, Brussels, Belgium (2011); Secession, Vienna, Austria; Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel; Parasol Unit, London (2012); Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (2014); Marabouparken Konsthall, Sundbybert, Sweden (2015); KINDL, Berlin (2016); Städel Museum, Frankfurt (2016); MNAC, Barcelona (2017); Schaulager, Basel (2017); Kunsthaus Bregenz (2018); Kunst Museum Winterthur (2020); and Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague (2020), Taipei Fine Arts Museum (2023).
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