The beauty and terror of progress

Age of Wonder
The beauty and terror of progress
Location
We live in interesting times. Our rapidly
changing world makes us dream
uncertainly of both utopian societies
and nightmarish scenarios. We want to
reinvent the world, society and our lives.
For that, we need to look beyond our own
frames of reference and specialisations.
Natlab
Kastanjelaan 500
5616 LZ Eindhoven
During the festival Age of Wonder, we
will zoom out at our spot on the timeline
and look to the past and the future. With
a distinctive programme focussing on
bold visions and big ideas. In so doing,
Age of Wonder takes the essence and the
existence of the 100-year-old Natlab as a
starting point: a space where, detached
from the outside world and the issues of
the day, you can open your mind full of
wonder to insights old and new.
Organised by
The beauty and
terror of progress
A festival celebrating the spirit of 100 years of Natlab
Powered by:
age of wonder.nl
28, 29, 30 March
(100)
Natlab Eindhoven
Artistic
experiments
in the
scientific
realm
Installation, performance
Chemo-Bar
Erik Hobijn
The Bar is a cocktail machine; every
cocktail is a work of art in this installation and needs to be prepared
by Professor Hobijn himself and his
assistant. The menu promises a lot
of smoke, vodka and fun for both
the professor and the audience.
Opening Performance
and installation
Performance
Volta,
Dick Raaijmakers
Ballad Erlkönig
Kees Tazelaar, Johan van Kreij
Michiel Pijpe, Artscience Interfaculty
Remake of Dick Raaijmakers’ performance Volta (1995) by Michiel Pijpe
and the Artscience Interfaculty. A
giant battery is constructed, producing energy for exactly one light
bulb. Raaijmakers (1930-2013) was
a multi­media artist and one of the
founding fathers of Dutch electronic music, ­investigating this field in
­Natlab in the fifties.
Kees Tazelaar and Johan van Kreij,
both composers of electronic music,
bring back to live (life) the musical
heritage of Dick Raaijmakers.
For this occasion they created a
new version of Canon 1 for eight
­speaker boxes.
It’s in the air
Felix Hess
‘It’s in the air’ is merely a field of
small paper vanes on the floor that
move in the air. His simplest work,
according to the artist. Felix Hess is
a trained physicist, expert in aero­
dynamics, and a sound researcher,
“He is a unique crosser of the boundaries between science and art.”
Installation
(on show till April 6)
Howard Boland, Laura Cinti
We are regularly confronted with
fantastic inventions and discoveries,
but here you truly have the feeling
to undergo an unreal futuristic experience. Living mirror is an interactive
bio-display combining magnetic
bacteria, electronics and photo
manipulation. The cells form a live
mirror image. Art scientists Howard Boland and Laura Cinti create
this surrealistic experience for the
­person looking in this mirror.
The right way to
make coffee
What does it mean to be human?
Can we improve our human nature
with technological enhancements?
Swedish philosopher Nick
Bostrom began thinking of a
future full of human enhancement,
nanotechnology and cloning long
before they became mainstream
concerns. He will explore his views
on the future speeding towards us in
this keynote.
Masterclass
What is the nature of a
21st century ‘human’?
Keynote lecture (English spoken)
Former Natlab employee Wim
­Langenhoff has a huge archive and
a dito memory. His broad interest
in everything and everyone enables
him to tell stories about everything
worthwhile in the Natlab. He is
more than happy to answer your
­questions.
A three-day masterclass for partici­
pants from a range of disciplines
to embark on a journey to change
their view of what it means to be
human in the 21st century at a time
of ecological crisis. Each participant
will encounter a series of challenges
that reframe the way we think about
our lives and ourselves so that we
are no longer “machine-­humans”
but “ecological-humans”. This
workshop is based on the “mythic
stories” workshops as conducted by
RAND for companies like Shell in the
­period between the ‘50 and ‘70s.
We offer a several options, ranging from tickets per program item (€ 7,50),
day pass (€ 15) and passe-partout (€ 40). Tickets are sold online and at
­Natlab. To be guaranteed a spot at one of the program items, please reserve
via +31 (0)40 2946848 or take a risk (only for day pass end passe-partout).
Check our website for travel info and hotel options.
13.00
What distinguishes man from
­machine and what connects them?
Is a machine not preferable? This
nerd movie pur sang, contains all
current thoughts on singularity.
The creation of the humanoids
(1962) was far ahead of its time.
Fred McLeod Wilcox
Doug Wolens
The Singularity is the leading documentary about the moment that machines will equal human intelligence,
consciousness and creativity. Very
informative, highly speculative and
controversial, this film never fails
to raise discussions. So a debate is
planned Sunday afternoon after the
last showing of this documentary.
Debate (English spoken)
The Singularity Debate
Rinie van Est
Debate/discussion following the film
The Singularity. Led by Rinie van Est
of the Rathenau Institute, Doug Wolens, the director of the film, Rachel
Armstrong, future thinker among
biologists, Iain McGilchrist, psychiatrist/philosopher and authority on
human nature, and Richard Fortey,
expert on natural evolution, will
enter into a debate on the unknown,
strange and beautiful world that
awaits us.
Regarded as one of the best sci-fi
films from the 1950’s, The Forbidden­
­Planet (1956) reflects a very
­optimistic view on technological
progress and possibilities.
Film (English spoken)
Adam Curtis
Film (Japanese spoken,
English subtitles)
Iain McGilchrist
If we had to describe the famous
Scottish psychiatrist/philosopher
Iain McGilchrist in a Dutch context,
he’d be some kind of combination
of Dick Swaab and Hans Achterhuis.
For twenty years, the British psychiatrist worked on his book on the
functioning of the two halves of the
human brain and the way in which
they affect the development of our
culture, consciousness and society.
Shane Carruth
The work of a genius, brilliant,
mind-blowing: there is no end to
the praise in the reviews about
Upstream Color (USA 2013). A film
that, through the images and music,
evokes feelings so poignantly that
it seems to have been created for
the right half of our brain. Age of
­Wonder is proud to present its
Dutch première.
Film (English spoken)
The Man from Earth
Richard Schenkman
Nothing
Vincenzo Natali
Very funny, ingenious and
­fascinating: Nothing. Two losers ­
see their wishes come true:
everything they don’t like,
­disappears. They are ­finally left
alone, surrounded by a white void.
From the director of Cube.
16.00
17.00
INLOOP
18.00
La Planète Sauvage (France 1973)
shows an extraordinarily strong
imagination. In social criticism,
originality and visual beauty the film
is a pioneer in the genre, inspiring
for example the later Miyazaki films
­(Spirited away).
19.00
VOLTA
(OPENING)
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
PART 1
23.00
24.00
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
NOTHING
PART 3
THE MAN FROM EARTH
UPSTREAM COLOR
LA PLANÈTE SAUVAGE
IT’S IN THE AIR
11.00
12.00
13.00
14.00
15.00
VOLTA (11.00 - 21.30)
16.00
17.00
18.00
19.00
20.00
21.00
THE SINGULARITY
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
PART 1
ANDRÉ KLUKHUHN
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
THE CREATION OF
THE HUMANOIDS
MASTERCLASS PRESENTATIONS: WHAT IS
THE NATURE OF A 21ST CENTURY ‘HUMAN’?
22.00
23.00
THE RIGHT WAY TO
MAKE COFFEE
THE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE COFFEE
ARTIST
PRESENTATIONS
MACHINES
OF LOVING
GRACE
PART 2
RICHARD FORTEY
PART 3
UPSTREAM COLOR
THE MAN FROM EARTH
THE FORBIDDEN PLANET
THE INCREDIBLE
SHRINKING MAN
LA PLANÈTE SAUVAGE
GHOST IN THE SHELL 2
NATURAL
COMPUTING
ICOLOGICAL
CITIES
BALLAD ERLKÖNIG
24.00
LAB-1:
AGE OF
WONDER
ODD
FUTURE
PARTY
23.00
—
04.00
CHEMO BAR (CLOSES 01.00)
DE NOOIJER HALL
OLD
NATLAB
WING
THE LIVING MIRROR
D. RAAIJMAKERS HALL
IT’S IN THE AIR
12.00
13.00
VOLTA (11.00 - 21.30)
ARTIST
PRESENTATIONS
DE UITVINDERS EN
HET ZONNEWIEL
14.00
THE RIGHT WAY
TO MAKE COFFEE
IAIN MCGILCHRIST
THE CREATION OF
THE HUMANOIDS
NOTHING
TREE
ANTENNA
16.00
17.00
18.00
TREE ANTENNA
WORKSHOP
THE SINGULARITY
THE FABULOUS WORLD
OF JULES VERNE
UPSTREAM COLOR
19.00
20.00
21.00
22.00
23.00
24.00
TREE ANTENNA
LAUNCH
THE SINGULARITY
DEBATE
THE MAN FROM EARTH
LA PLANÈTE SAUVAGE
INTERSPECIES
COMMUNITIES
CHEMO BAR
THE LIVING MIRROR
IT’S IN THE AIR
ageofwonder.nl
MASTERCLASS PRESENTATIONS: WHAT IS
THE NATURE OF A 21ST CENTURY ‘HUMAN’?
15.00
28, 29, 30 March 2014
11.00
ZAAL 4
D. RAAIJMAKERS HALL
22.00
VOLTA
(FINNISAGE)
PART 2
FOYER
DE NOOIJER HALL
21.00
THE LIVING MIRROR
ZAAL 4
FOYER
20.00
A thrilling remake of a 1904 experiment in which live trees antennas
act as antennas for radio contact.
Simple and magical at the same
time: the combination of nature and
technology. This concept was not
developed any further at the time,
but now BioArt Laboratories has decided to take up the challenge again.
CHEMO BAR (CLOSES 01.00)
ZAAL 3
BROET BASEMENT
Artists, creative thinkers and doers
from HIVOS will join to share their
knowledge and insights. HIVOS, the
international development organisation, focuses on social innovation
and has an extensive network in
Indonesia, East Africa and Latin
America. Their speakers will provide
inspiration and food for thought
during these presentations.
THE ECOLOGICAL
HUMAN
AUDITORIUM
ZAAL 3
Artist presentations
NICK BOSTROM
THE INCREDIBLE
SHRINKING MAN
D. RAAIJMAKERS HALL
AUDITORIUM
Film voor kinderen van 8+.
De jonge uitvinder Sibrand werkt
aan zijn ­elektrische auto ‘Sunny’.
Samen met Aisha, de dochter van
de waarzegster, gaat hij op zoek
naar Sjors de leeuwentemmer. ­Het
schijnt dat Sjors de ultieme bron
van groene energie kent om Sunny
te laten rijden. Maar hij is spoorloos
verdwenen…
THE RIGHT WAY
TO MAKE COFFEE
DE NOOIJER HALL
BALTAN BASEMENT
BROET Kweekvijver, De Ontdekfabriek
BioArt Laboratories
René Laloux, Roland Topor
FOYER
SUNDAY 30 MARCH
Age of wonder KIDS: De
Uitvinders en het Zonnewiel
Tree Antenna KICK OFF
La Planète Sauvage
An anime of extraordinary beauty
that reflects on the human and the
artificial. What if machines learn to
feel? What distinguishes them from
humanity? Ghost in the shell 2 is
visually breathtaking yet probably
more realistic about the future than
many futurologists are.
ZAAL 4
BROET BASEMENT
And more
Film (English spoken)
Film (French spoken,
English subtitles)
Mamoru Oshii
ZAAL 3
BALTAN BASEMENT
Ultimate science-fiction film that
pushes the idea of shrinking to
its limits. The incredible shrinking
man visualises this concept, loved
by both artists and scientists, in a
unique way.
Workshop & demonstration
Ghost in the Shell 2:
Innocence
AUDITORIUM
SATURDAY 29 MARCH
Jack Arnold
Organized by HIVOS
A series of three films about the
colonisation of mankind by the machines people have built. Although
we don’t realise this, the way we
see the world today is through the
eyes of computers. Computers have
failed to liberate us and instead have
distorted and simplified our view of
the world.
The Myth of Logic and
the Logic of Myth
MASTERCLASS PRESENTATIONS: WHAT IS
THE NATURE OF A 21ST CENTURY ‘HUMAN’?
The incredible
Shrinking Man
Upstream Color
(Dutch première)
The man from earth is not a typical
sci-fi film. There is no action whatsoever in this film, the time is now,
everyone is just talking and someone claims to be 14.000 years old.
Yet it is completely mesmerizing
and very exciting.
All watched over by
Machines of Loving Grace
Keynote by one of the most accomplished science writers and
biologists of this time. His view:
‘Earth and life have evolved together over billions of years. Both have
passed across thresholds that have
changed the whole biosphere. Life
has ­survived major mass extinctions,
and continued to prosper. But does
this long history have anything relevant to humanity, or do we break all
the rules?’
The fabulous world of Jules Verne
is considered the first, important
‘steampunk’ film. Visually fabulous,
full of ideas and understated Czech
humour.
Film (English spoken,
Dutch subtitles)
The Forbidden Planet
The Singularity
(European première)
Film (English spoken)
BALTAN BASEMENT
BROET BASEMENT
Karel Zeman
Film (English spoken)
Richard Fortey
15.00
The fabulous World
of Jules Verne
Wesley E. Barry
Film (English spoken)
Four billion years of life on
earth: what should it teach
mankind?
14.00
Film (Czech spoken,
English subtitles)
The Creation of
the Humanoids
Keynote lecture (English spoken)
Tickets
12.00
Film (English spoken)
Nick Bostrom
“De kwantumtheorie, de bio-industrie, het existentialisme, het verband
tussen muziek en wiskunde, de
relatie tussen bewustzijn en taak,
zwarte gaten, wormgaten en de
oerknal: you name it […] – en helder
uitgelegd ook nog.” (De Volkskrant).
Filosoof en scheikundige Andre
Klukhuhn is altijd op zoek naar de
grenzen tussen filosofie, wetenschap, kunst en religie. Hij stelt dat
deze verschillende intellectuele
menselijke activiteiten geen tegengestelden zijn, maar juist samenkomen in een onbreekbaar verbond.
During the Age of Wonder, Lab-1 presents an adventurous club evening
­featuring an experimental DJ line up by the local underground scene. LAB-1
equals dynamic experiment and creativity, and above all is a place to enjoy
the festive, free and nomadic spirit in the former Natlab wing. The various
niches in the old building combine an club evening with diversity of atmospheres, music and moods. Saturday 29 March, 23.00 – 04.00. Entrance: € 10
Location: Back entrance of the Natlab
11.00
Superintelligence
André Klukhuhn
LAB-1: Odd Future Party
FRIDAY 28 MARCH
Keynote Lecture (English spoken)
De vreemde lus
Performance
Rachel Armstrong, Arne Hendriks
Living Mirror
Myths of
the near
future
film
program
KEYNOTE Lecture (Dutch spoken)
Wim Langenhoff explains the Natlab
Installation
(on show from 18 till march 31)
Lectures
about big
ideas
Program