CUBE Residency Proposal - Draft 1/7

Is there a Correlation Between Spikes in Human Evolution and Cultures with the Alliance of Art + Science?

State your hypothesis or question in relation to the topic above

“Interpretations of the past are subject to change in response to new evidence, new questions asked of the evidence, new perspectives gained by the passage of time. There is no single, eternal, and immutable "truth" about past events and their meaning.”

James McPherson (Historian), 2003

The past is unattainable. We can research, gather data, speak to experts and make conjectures, but ultimately our understanding of the past will always be mediated by the methodologies, frameworks and ideologies through which we observe and interpret it. To paraphrase Frederic Jameson “Each generation rewrites history to fit with its zeitgeist”.

Our enquiry first acknowledges the unavoidable observer phenomena in all areas of human understanding. Secondly, the enquiry recognises a (modern) Western bias in the topic towards a linear narrative of “human evolution and culture” and in it's divided definition of “Arts” and “Science” as discrete systems of empirical knowledge.With this in mind, our question is:

What is it about our current time and context which makes the question of Art, Science and technology alliance important and what does it mean for future human evolution and culture?

How would you explore this question?

To explore this question, the opening of, and engagement with, a multiplicity of discourses and methodological approaches is key, reflecting not only trends in contemporary art practice but also the growing emphasis on ecological, transdisciplinary approaches in current art and philosophy.

We will develop a liquid network of ideas and research, based on the model of the 'open source' network. As much as possible this network will be made publicly accessible through an online blog which will provide a platform for pooling ideas, research and documentation. In tandem with this will be a tangible, constantly evolving project wall, mapping the project's development through work, ideas and new questions arising from the process.

We will further explore the question through the promotion, nurturing and generation of open discourse with the public and professionals through a planned programme of events and public engagement. The format of the project is intended to encourage a more lively approach to exploring the question whilst offering a valuable resource for interesting ideas, conversations and new connections to develop along the way.

How would articulate your findings?

The exact manifestation of our findings will be dependent upon the nature of those findings (also acknowledging that we may not necessarily arrive at a final hypotheses but at a further set of questions). However, throughout the project we shall be contributing content to the project blog and the project shall certainly culminate in an exhibition and publication.

What potential events / public engagement would you curate around your work?

The planned programme of events will include interviews, discussion events, reading groups, film screenings, performances and workshops.