Call for Web Residencies No. 19 »Algorithmic Poetry.«

The residency »Algorithmic Poetry.« looks at how sound may poetically speak with algorithms and networks. In form and concept, we are attuned to critique, poetic proliferation, mutation, decay, adaptation, and the subversion of algorithms. How, for example, can various sonic ways of knowing infiltrate and mutate platform capitalist predictions and assumptions? With a strong focus on experimentation, they encourage artists whose practice uses sound, in its many platforms, as artistic and critical material to partake in this online residency.

Algorithmic experimentation spans conceptual or technical thinking about digital relations, internet architectures, and subcultures, online sharing or dissemination practices, and technological developments. An experimental approach reconsiders and questions how behavioural data categorization, digital visibility, information pattern recognition, and data collection are implemented for algorithms. With this in mind, what are ways to expand the algorithm, redefine machine relations, and critique data identification with sound?

The open call takes inspiration from poet, literary critic, and philosopher Édouard Glissant, who authored Poetics of Relation, and how this seminal work and his other writings are periodically tweeted via the @Glissantbot1 in English and French – creating an algorithmic poetics with a coded prompt. In the words of Glissant, »Poetics of relation is about allowing for the surprise of the unexpected connection, the unexpected similarity, the unexpected meeting. It is about recognizing that relationships and connections between things are never fixed but always in a state of flux and transformation.« Poetics of relation describes the process of creating meaningful relationships between seemingly disparate elements, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things. They encourage proposals using sound, listening, and/or recording practices to explore how these different elements interact and how to create significant or consequential relationships between them.

This residency is remote and offers a framework to think about sound projects from varied perspectives and positions rooted in critique, clashes, the imagined, and/or subversion.

In favour of supporting the constantly changing nature of digital online work, and promoting experimental approaches, we do not prescribe the format in which applicants choose to present their work. Yet, the Digital Solitude program provides web space for each web resident and hosts and distributes their web-based projects within a given frame. In addition, the program works with a web designer/UX designer and programmer who can assist in implementing the project. In addition to presenting and sharing projects online, the program is currently working on offline formats related to the call. This could be a listening session, a panel, an exhibition, or a curated program in fall 2023, to be defined more precisely with the web residents’ working group. They encourage the applicants to consider the accessibility of the users, who may range in age, race, gender, economic class, and ability.

Four project proposals will be selected and rewarded with an online residency and a grant of 1,200 euros.

Please send your application until April 30, 2023 (midnight IDLW / UTC−12:00) to [email protected] by submitting your project proposal in the form of:

– a headline
– a header image (high resolution, landscape format)
– a short concept text in English (1,000–1,500 characters with spaces)
– a short text describing in which format the project should be presented (400 characters with spaces
– a short bio in English (400 characters with spaces)
– a PDF portfolio
– additional links to previous works

Artists of all disciplines as well as former Solitude fellows may apply. There is no age limit.

Please write to [email protected] if you have any questions.