Ars Electronica Futurelab
Ars Electronica Futurelab Andreas J. Hirsch Edited by Horst Hörtner, Roland Haring, Hideaki Ogawa Alchemists of the Future Ars Electronica Futurelab The First 25 Years and Beyond ARS ELECTRONICA FUTURELAB 25 Years of Ars Electronica Futurelab The creation of the Futurelab was in equal measure an accident or a stroke of luck (right people, right time, right place) and the unavoidable consequence of the original Ars Electronica idea of a merging of art, technology, and society. It was certainly also an urgent necessity—actually the only chance—to make the planned Ars Electronica Center with its groundbreaking innovations, high artistic standards, and clear didactical goals a fully functioning “Museum of the Future.” In mid-1995, entrusted with this task, we were faced with so many technical and creative challenges that there was simply only one way forward: putting together a team of ambitious and visionary artists and technicians and striving to turn this great vision, which up to that point had existed only on paper, into reality. To realize his idea of an Ars Electronica Center, Hannes Leopoldseder had in advance invited experts and artists from all over the world to develop visions for this new kind of center and, not surprisingly, the invitees outdid themselves with spectacular scenarios ranging from LED wallpaper with which all walls would be covered (at that time there were not yet LED flatscreens on the market) to kinetic components that would change the building constantly. Alas, there was then the reality, a reality in which it was not enough to cobble these kinds of prototypes together for a short demonstration at a fair or art exhibition, but rather one in which they had to stand up to the real world of permanent exhibitions where they were on show six days a week, with only one day for maintenance and repair.
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