K(not) a Conversation is an artistic research project exploring the concepts of artificial intelligence, creativity and labour. Through interactive installations inspired by ancient indigenous communication systems of Quipu knots, it instigates a communication and reflection process through the use of knots and AI systems. Quipus were devices composed from cotton of camelid fibre strings that recorded data through the organisation of knotted cords to inform a spectrum of social activities in Andean regions. Formally taking inspiration from this ancient apparatus, K(not) a Conversation instigates dialogue with an AI system to examine a possible evolution of concepts such as intelligence, creativity and labour. Started in 2020 as part of the BeFantastic CoLab Fellowship during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has been displayed at Vorspiel / transmediale & CTM and India Art Fair.
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Team
Nayeli Vega Vargas
Nayeli Vega Vargas is a Berlin-based textile and material designer interested in participatory and collective practices. In 2020, she was awarded the DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements of international students studying at German universities. Vega Vargas is a recipient of the Elsa Neumann Scholarship of the State of Berlin for 2021. She is a co-founder and member of Lacuna Lab e.V., an international artist-run association, collaborative community, and space in Berlin.
For more information about her work, visit yokoiki.com. You also find her on Instagram.
Thomas Heidtmann
Thomas Heidtmann is a Berlin-based media artist, studied at the Berlin University of the Arts. He works at the intersection of art, science and technology. Since 2015 he has been a co-founder and board member of Lacuna Lab e.V. As founder of the space art initiative SPARTH (since 2017) and its community SPARTHabitat (since 2018), he investigates and promotes space art activities. His works have been presented internationally and examine forms of exploration, collaboration, and communication.
More information about his work under thomasheidtmann.de or on Instagram.
Ambika Joshi
Ambika Joshi has been learning, teaching and experimenting with creative computation since 2017. She is a co-instigator of dra.ft which explores emergent ideas of text and its future and co-founder of Ajaibghar Cultural Services, a project management and strategy consultancy for museums and culture projects. She works heavily with generative texts, computer vision and machine learning. She has been featured in Casey Reas’ (co-founder Processing) recent list of generative artists doing interesting work.
Visit her website computationalmama.xyz or follow her on Instagram.
