V&A Digital Futures: Bodies of Planned Obsolescence. Digital performance and the global politics of electronic waste*

Thu 2 Jul 2015, 5:30-8:30pm

Bodies of Planned Obsolescence is an art-science research networking project that uses and develops strategies in digital performance art, cultural studies, and science, to engage with the political, sociological and ecological issues around electronic waste in countries that export (UK) and import (Nigeria and China) used technology.

An international group of artists, cultural theorists and scientists have followed a practice-based approach to explore the materiality of obsolete and discarded electronic devices in a series of workshops, symposiums and exhibitions in Hong Kong, China, Lagos, Nigeria, and London, UK. Central to the workshops in Nigeria and Hong Kong was a series of practice-based explorations of e-waste recycling labour.

The project engages arts practitioners with the material and socio-economic aspects of technology in terms of their production, and their ‘afterlife’ as electronic waste, but also looks to open public debate and discussions around the problematics of e-waste. This session will encompass performance and video art, intertwined with talks and a group discussion about the project.
*‘Electronic waste’ or ‘e-waste’ is a generic term to describe old or discarded electric and electronic equipment that have ceased to be of value to their owners.

Project participants:

-Dr Daniël Ploeger, Principal Investigator, Bodies of Planned Obsolescence. Performance Artist, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London
- Jelili Atiku, Performance artist, Lagos State Polytechnic, Nigeria
- Shu Lea Cheang, New media artist, Filmmaker, USA/France
- Dr Neil Maycroft, Cultural theorist, University of Lincoln,
- Kehinde Olubanjo, environmental scientist, Lagos, Nigeria
- Irini Papadimitriou, Digital Programmes Manager, Learning Dept, V&A and Head of New Media Arts Development, Watermans
- Dr Chris Williams, Institute of Education/UoL, Lecturer, International Studies

Guest speakers:

- Dr Jennifer Gabrys, Reader and Principal Investigator, European Research Council project Citizen Sense Department of Sociology, Goldsmiths University of London
- Carlo Inverardi Ferri, DPhil Candidate, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford
- Dr Federico Magalini, Research Associate, United Nations University
- The Restart Project

Bodies of Planned Obsolescence is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (grant reference: AH/L01582X/1) and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.