ISEA2020, the 26^th International Symposium on Electronic Art, opened in Montreal yesterday. Addressing pressing contemporary issues and practice-based approaches to exploring the theme Why Sentience?, the symposium features four days of academic presentations, panels, artist talks and institutional presentations, followed by a workshop program on the weekend. The symposium’s online artistic program features the works of over 100 international artists.

ANAT Director Vicki Sowry presented on ISEA’s opening day, alongside colleagues from Experimenta, Queen Mary University of London and Molior Productions.

Vicki’s presentation introduced ANAT on Country and drew out how the program and the participating artists and knowledge holders are engaging with the symposium theme. ANAT on Country foregrounds Indigenous-led and artist-led research into Country and the challenges arising from land management practices and climate change. ANAT on Country is delivered through ANAT’s core programs, as well as through a number of new initiatives. Vicki focused on the inaugural ANAT on Country art/science residency undertaken in 2019 by Dr Sarah Jane Moore and Dr Laura Parker.

Tickets available here

Founded in the Netherlands in 1990, ISEA International (formerly Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts) is an international non-profit organization fostering interdisciplinary academic discourse and exchange among culturally diverse organizations and individuals working with art, science and technology.