We are very excited to announce the 18th edition of SIMULTAN Festival, taking place in Timișoara, October 5 – 8, 2023. Titled OSCILLATIONS: Things to Remember, the festival aims to explore and question various aspects of society and individual life influenced by technology, to delve into speculative situations, and to disrupt the standardised image of the future, the cult of progress, and infinite development.
From the personal to the social and political, philosophical, and existential, the festival seeks to highlight how artists respond to some of the major challenges of our times and their relationship with the media, how they document change, and how they envision the future. › Read the full theme text
Open Call for video submissions
The call is open for emerging and established artists worldwide, new authors and/or students. We are looking for submissions of innovative video works related to the festival theme and produced in the last two years (2021-2023). The selected works will be part of the festival program in October and published in the SIMULTAN video archive (to be agreed with the authors).
We will reward four video works with a 500 EUR artist fee. Application deadline: 20 August 2023.
SIMULTAN 2023 runs under the theme OSCILLATIONS: Things to Remember
In the modern cacophony of life, technology emerges as a double-edged sword, orchestrating a complex relation with nature, information, everyday life, memory and so on. While it promises convenience and progress, its pervasive presence and relentless intrusion raise profound concerns about the erosion of genuine human experiences and memories.
The natural rhythms of existence and the authenticity of human interaction become distorted by virtual substitutes. We surrender to technology, letting it dictate our thoughts, memories, and choices, all while the digital orchestra maintains control over our actions.
Oscillation serves as a foundational principle in understanding and interacting with our world. From the smallest atomic vibrations to the grandest cosmic movements, oscillation shapes our experiences, communication, and technological advancements. Recognizing the significance of oscillation in our lives can deepen our appreciation for the complexities and beauty of the natural and technological phenomena that surround us. Our senses, such as sight, hearing, and touch, rely on oscillatory patterns to interpret the world around us.
Language and communication systems are based on patterns, whether in the form of spoken words, written text, or signs. Our interactions often involve subtle oscillatory cues, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures. These non-verbal signals convey emotions, intentions, and attitudes, contributing to effective communication and social bonding. The interfaces we use to interact with technology are often designed with oscillatory feedback, the vibrations and haptic feedback on smartphones provide sensory cues during interactions as many everyday devices and technologies are built upon oscillatory systems. Music is fundamentally based on oscillatory patterns of sound. In various scientific fields, oscillations are essential for understanding complex phenomena, as In physics, oscillatory behavior is fundamental to studying waves, vibrations, or In biology the circadian rhythms, relies on the concept of oscillation. Oscillation is also prevalent in the natural world, contributing to various cycles, such as the Earth’s rotation, causing day and night, as well as the changing seasons due to its axial tilt.
Read more and submit your work
SIMULTAN Festival is an annual event built around an artistic concept, which channels current situations caused by various changes in contemporary society, whether socio-political, economic or technological. The festival functions as a transdisciplinary platform dedicated to emerging media projects (audio-visual), experimental music and sound arts, in order to facilitate a meeting and presentation point for the local artistic community in relation to the international one.
The program of the event, during the nine days, includes a series of events and actions, such as live sound and audiovisual performances, video art screenings, exhibitions, conferences and workshops in which some themes and methods are: stylistic eclecticism, relationship between man and technology, recycling or ecological themes, dry-digital lyricism, the fusion of acoustic and electronic instruments, expanded cinema, jovial sound collage, as well as the reflection on the political valences of sound.
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