The Commons (2023)

The Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture, and Technology, annual members' exhibition

Curators Hanss Lujan Torres, Puneet Jain, Cecilia McKinnon and Ariana Seferiades

September 25 - 29, 2023

The project Human Circle: A growing pattern of collaborations by Pramila Choudhary & Sabina Rak was a 5-day public drawing collaboration on the idea of the circle. A universal symbol of both nothing and everything, of the individual and the universal, the circle stands here for the simplest form that, through addition and collaboration, can create an organic pattern. This is a proposed collective action, co-creation of one work of art mimicking the growth of an idea, of an organism, of shared interests into a larger, more cohesive whole. The project will also challenge the participants to rethink the idea of the circle and of the individual mark: how many ways are there to draw circles?

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"The Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture, and Technology in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang is delighted to invite you to our annual members’ exhibition. This event will unfold from September 25 – 29, 2023, at Concordia’s 4th Space. This year, our diverse community of students and faculty members will present their research and research-creation works through the thematic lens of “The Commons”.

The theme “The Commons” encourages exploration of shared resources and spaces that are accessible to all members of a community or society. This concept has been interpreted through a range of creative and research practices by our contributors. The exhibition hopes to delve into the many facets of The Commons, illustrating its potential as a catalyst for creativity, collaboration and social change.

Key themes woven throughout the exhibition’s works include our relationship with machines, the intersections of technology, ecology, and human existence, recent developments in artificial intelligence and collective creation, a critical examination of the internet as a digital commons, and the dynamics of access to public spaces. Additional themes encompass the use of craft as a tool for commoning, sustainable crafts, embodied virtual experiences, exploration of urban narratives and systemic issues, and inquiries regarding inclusion and accessibility." (text by Milieux)

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Photos: Hei Lam Ng