To celebrate 20 years of Pixelache, oral text proposes an approach to the insights of an art association through dialogues.

Oral text is a series of 3 episodes,  dialogues or conversations, where the premise was only to situate the narration in the past, the present and the future.

Antti Ahonen has been around Pixelache since the beginning, in 2002. 
So with Antti, there is this interview remembering the early years and past festivals.
We talked about enthusiasm, burnouts, similarities between art grants and cult choreographies to get money from the higher level, parties and festivals that happened in an island where you can't escape to be part of the festival program.
And many random memory souvenirs from the past era.

A conversation while drinking beer and spirits in an apartment in Rastila.

Oral Text episode 1. Antti Ahonen, memories

Oral text is a 3 episode series of podcasts to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pixelache. 
Each invited artists, was suggested to situate each narration with a temporality: past, present or future. 

In this episode, the guest artists is Sumu, who proposed sound recordings from São Paulo, Santos and São João, in the countryside of Rio. Recorded as audio snapshots or sonic postcards, the sounds are bites of different landscapes and moments.

The sounds where later edited and remixed by Tiikka, generating a continuous sound landscape.

Sound recordings: Sumugan Sivanesan
Edit and remix: Tiikka

Pixelache 2022.

Oral text episode 2: Sumu X Tiikka Drama Sound Postcard

Last chapter of Oral text, a 3 chapter podcast made with the excuse of the 20th anniversary of Pixelache. Irina Mutt invited 3 different artists. Considering that Pixelache as an art association started at the beginning of the XXI century and runs during its first two decades, the proposal was for each artists to situate the narrative in a time line; past, present and future.

In this episode, writer and curator Sonia Fernandez Pan, talks with Irina Mutt about the club scenes, bodies on the dance floor and aging.
How we navigate the techno club, raves or other social situations while being in your forties. 

The invitation to Sonia started to discuss, or situate our talk into the future, the possibilities and potentialities of the unknown. But very quick it switched to a discussion about aging, the male gaze, the hegemonic tropes and milestones. 

How we saw the future when we were 20, and how  the future feels when you are in the middle of the life span. Can we think about own futures while not having mortgages or kids? Is there a way to break the linearity? Can we imagine times that go beyond our life span, celebrating the ones who opened ways before us, and passing hope to the ones who will arrive after us?

The talk has been edited, and with music added by musician and producer Tiikka.

Oral text episode 3, with  Sonia Fernandez Pan & Irina Mutt

Pixelache Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Podcasts about Wikimedia & grassroots cultural organisations meeting, conversing, and getting to know-each other again as long-lost friends


In this podcast collection Andrew Gryf Paterson, long term member of Pixelache Festival converses in 4-parts with Florence Devouard, Wikimedian in Residence with the World Intellectual Property Organization, former chair of Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, and involved in numerous collaborations in Africa. She tells of her experience as an invited guest of Pixelache in 2005, and her wider Wikimedia work then and now. We offer ideas about how creative organisations can develop their Wikipedia presence.

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson part-A.ogg; 22 min 59 s; 22.03 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson_part-A.ogg

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson part-B.ogg; 25 min 38 s; 24.33 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson_part-B.ogg

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson part-C.ogg; 15 min 57 s; 15.68 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson_part-C.ogg

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson part-D.ogg; 18 min 39 s; 18.13 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_florence-devouard-andrew-gryf-paterson_part-D.ogg


--

In summary, our process discusses and reflect upon the long parallel history -20 years- of Pixelache Helsinki Festival and transdisciplinary platform, which in the first decade has promoted open culture, alongside the time when Wikimedia methodologies were developing. Where have these approaches overlapped, gone hand-in-hand and then diverged. We wish to reconcile in ambitions with both the Wikimedia and Creative Commons anniversaries.

--

Pixelache Helsinki over the year 2022 has worked on their archival process and reflections, and this Wikimedia Foundation rapid grant-supported project updates skills and understanding within our membership, interested Finnish and regional peers, as well as an international example for other similar cultural associations involved in network culture.

These podcasts are released with open licenses in a series feature Florence Devouard, Toni Sant, Rebecca O’Neill, Nikki Zeuner, Z. Blace and Andrew Gryf Paterson, recorded between November 2022 and January 2023. 

These residencies are a follow on from the initial conversation between Z. Blace and Rebecca O’Neill on open archiving practices as part of Pixelache Helsinki Festival #Burn____ in June 2021, and began with #OpenMICwithPixelache Vorspiel event of CTM/Transmediale festivals in February 2022.

The process was funded by the rapid grant of the Wikimedia Foundation, and with inkind support of Pixelache Helsinki Festival. The Wikimedians-in-residence process is part of Pixelache’s cultural programme reflecting upon 20 years of activity.

Pixelache is annually supported by TAIKE (Arts Promotion Centre Finland), and Helsinki City.


** Production credits ** 

Project initiator: Z. Blace.
Audio identity design by Sumugan Sivanesan.
Audio post production by Miia Laine.
Text translations into Finnish and Sámi language by Yupik. 
Project and visual design by Z. Blace. January 2022 graphic by Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Lead producer: Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Financial administrative support: Mathilde Palenius, Raisa Veikkola.

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Florence Devouard & Andrew Gryf Paterson, Part D

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Florence Devouard & Andrew Gryf Paterson, Part C

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Florence Devouard & Andrew Gryf Paterson, Part B

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Florence Devouard & Andrew Gryf Paterson, Part A

Pixelache Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Podcasts about Wikimedia & grassroots cultural organisations meeting, conversing, and getting to know-each other again as long-lost friends


In this podcast Rebecca O'Neill of Wikimedia Community Ireland spoke with Toni Sant of Wikimedia Community Malta, a curator, academic, and podcaster, about his experience in documenting creative practices using Wikimedia projects. We explore how emerging documentation projects of contemporary art collections are formulated to ensure they are interoperable with platforms such as Wikidata.

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast rebecca-oneill toni-sant.ogg; 35 min 53 s; 35.75 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_rebecca-oneill_toni-sant.ogg


--

In summary, our process discusses and reflect upon the long parallel history -20 years- of Pixelache Helsinki Festival and transdisciplinary platform, which in the first decade has promoted open culture, alongside the time when Wikimedia methodologies were developing. Where have these approaches overlapped, gone hand-in-hand and then diverged. We wish to reconcile in ambitions with both the Wikimedia and Creative Commons anniversaries.

--

Pixelache Helsinki over the year 2022 has worked on their archival process and reflections, and this Wikimedia Foundation rapid grant-supported project updates skills and understanding within our membership, interested Finnish and regional peers, as well as an international example for other similar cultural associations involved in network culture.

These podcasts are released with open licenses in a series feature Florence Devouard, Toni Sant, Rebecca O’Neill, Nikki Zeuner, Z. Blace and Andrew Gryf Paterson, recorded between November 2022 and January 2023. 

These residencies are a follow on from the initial conversation between Z. Blace and Rebecca O’Neill on open archiving practices as part of Pixelache Helsinki Festival #Burn____ in June 2021, and began with #OpenMICwithPixelache Vorspiel event of CTM/Transmediale festivals in February 2022.

The process was funded by the rapid grant of the Wikimedia Foundation, and with inkind support of Pixelache Helsinki Festival. The Wikimedians-in-residence process is part of Pixelache’s cultural programme reflecting upon 20 years of activity.

Pixelache is annually supported by TAIKE (Arts Promotion Centre Finland), and Helsinki City.


** Production credits ** 

Project initiator: Z. Blace.
Audio identity design by Sumugan Sivanesan.
Audio post production by Miia Laine.
Text translations into Finnish and Sámi language by Yupik. 
Project and visual design by Z. Blace. January 2022 graphic by Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Lead producer: Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Financial administrative support: Mathilde Palenius, Raisa Veikkola.

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Rebecca O'Neill & Toni Sant

Pixelache Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Podcasts about Wikimedia & grassroots cultural organisations meeting, conversing, and getting to know-each other again as long-lost friends


In this podcast Nikki Zeuner of Wiki Move podcast, and Zeljko Z. Blace, Wikimedian in Residence at Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb, spoke about contemporary culture, civil society organisations, not-for-profit infrastructures, as well as resources and innovation in 2030 Wikimedia strategy. We look into challenges and opportunities for working in global networked media through publishing and participation in the Wikimedia ecosystem. 

Pixelache 2023 wikimedians-in-residence podcast nikki-zeuner z-blace.ogg; 32 min 37 s; 31.71 MB
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pixelache_2023_wikimedians-in-residence_podcast_nikki-zeuner_z-blace.ogg


--

In summary, our process discusses and reflect upon the long parallel history -20 years- of Pixelache Helsinki Festival and transdisciplinary platform, which in the first decade has promoted open culture, alongside the time when Wikimedia methodologies were developing. Where have these approaches overlapped, gone hand-in-hand and then diverged. We wish to reconcile in ambitions with both the Wikimedia and Creative Commons anniversaries.

--

Pixelache Helsinki over the year 2022 has worked on their archival process and reflections, and this Wikimedia Foundation rapid grant-supported project updates skills and understanding within our membership, interested Finnish and regional peers, as well as an international example for other similar cultural associations involved in network culture.

These podcasts are released with open licenses in a series feature Florence Devouard, Toni Sant, Rebecca O’Neill, Nikki Zeuner, Z. Blace and Andrew Gryf Paterson, recorded between November 2022 and January 2023. 

These residencies are a follow on from the initial conversation between Z. Blace and Rebecca O’Neill on open archiving practices as part of Pixelache Helsinki Festival #Burn____ in June 2021, and began with #OpenMICwithPixelache Vorspiel event of CTM/Transmediale festivals in February 2022.

The process was funded by the rapid grant of the Wikimedia Foundation, and with inkind support of Pixelache Helsinki Festival. The Wikimedians-in-residence process is part of Pixelache’s cultural programme reflecting upon 20 years of activity.

Pixelache is annually supported by TAIKE (Arts Promotion Centre Finland), and Helsinki City.


** Production credits ** 

Project initiator: Z. Blace.
Audio identity design by Sumugan Sivanesan.
Audio post production by Miia Laine.
Text translations into Finnish and Sámi language by Yupik. 
Project and visual design by Z. Blace. January 2022 graphic by Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Lead producer: Andrew Gryf Paterson.
Financial administrative support: Mathilde Palenius, Raisa Veikkola.

Wikimedians-in-residence 2022: Nikki Zeuner & Z Blace

Pixelache Festival has happened in many interesting and unique locations, but for some reason for many of us the island locations – Suomenlinna, Vartiosaari, Naissaar (Estonia) – have been the most memorable.

During 2024, long-term Pixelache members Antti Ahonen & Andrew Gryf Paterson in collaboration with Jenna Jauhiainen take us back to these islands by organising guided tours and happenings for a small group of participants. These events are part of the ongoing memory work and archiving processes related to Pixelache's 20+ years of history, and are open to both carriers of memories of past festivals and the willing creators of new memories.

More info: https://pixelache.ac/events/island-apocalypse-tours-1-suomenlinna

Island Apocalypse Tours 2024 - Suomenlinna Guided Walk

Pixelache Helsinki is a transdisciplinary platform for experimental art, design, research and activism.

Amongst our fields of interest are: experimental interaction and electronics; renewable energy production/use; bioarts and art-science culture; grassroot organising and networks; politics and economics of media/technology; alternative economic cultures; VJ culture and audiovisual performances; media literacy and engaging environmental issues.

The name of Pixelache was found in an article that predicted new words which we would need in future. The word ‘pixelache’ (similar to ‘headache’) was supposed to describe the feeling that results from an overdose of digital media content. This overdose can happen easily if the content is too monotonic – which is the case if standards, formats, tools and design principles converge to a narrow set of options. Later interpretations could be an ‘ache’ of digital influence in everyday life, and an ‘ache’ to re-engage with non-digital interfaces and systems.

Pixelache wants to challenge mainstream standards and conventions, not only related to media and technology, but in the contemporary society in general.

Pixelache Helsinki is coordinated by non-profit cultural association Piknik Frequency ry, and is based in Helsinki, Finland.

See more at: http://www.pixelache.ac/about

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