Technology is never neutral but a reflection of the biases in our society. Submit creative representations using augmented reality on the subject of bias that articulate our ongoing concerns with technology’s growing ability to alter people’s visual perception of reality. The three finalists will each receive $1,000 as well as the opportunity to present their work to the public internationally via a live online event.

Submissions should articulate our ongoing concerns with technology’s growing ability to alter people’s visual perception of reality. Submissions may explore discriminatory, misrepresentational, and biased apparatuses or express thought-provoking ideas on how to deal with the perpetuation of bias by technology. Participants can focus on the interlocking operations of technology-driven systems within — but not limited to — the following domains:

• Advertising
• Journalism & Misinformation
• Robotics
• Medical Applications
• Surveillance Systems
• Cosmetics

Technology is never neutral but a reflection of the biases in our society. Images play an important role in that context: fake photos and videos created with deep neural networks threaten privacy, democracy, and national security. Vision recognition systems skew gender, race, and class differences and become vehicles of discrimination. Underdeveloped AI models misrepresent the health disparities faced by minority populations.

The open call is part of the project “Image + Bias” that critically engages with the cultural realities being increasingly determined by imperceptible technologies that show no sign of reducing their propagation of digitally twisted, fictional, and discriminatory representations. The project addresses the following questions: How is bias coded into our technology? How can we infiltrate the opaque mechanisms upon which technological systems are built and counter the perpetuation of bias? What innovative approaches can we develop to strengthen inclusion, diversity, and sustainability in technology?

REQUIREMENTS

• Submissions are limited to standard printable formats (DIN A2 / 420 x 594 mm / 16.5 x 23.4 inches / 300 dpi) animated by using the augmented reality interface of Artivive.
• The competition is open to everyone that is 18 years of age or older on the competition start date.
• Submissions are limited to English.
• Group submissions by multiple artists or collectives are permitted.
• Up to three artworks can be submitted per artist.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

• Register for a free artist account on Artivive here.
• Create your AR project using Bridge and fill out the “Artwork Info” section (max. 250 characters).
• Use the form provided on the bottom of this page to submit an image of your project (for reviewing purposes) along with a concept explaining the idea behind the work.

SELECTION

• An independent international jury nominated by the participating project partners will select three finalists.
• The three finalists will each receive $1,000 as well as the opportunity to present their work to the public internationally via a live online event organized by the Goethe-Institut and the participating project partners.
• In addition to the three selected finalists, seven other submissions will be selected and displayed in an interactive online gallery and at the Goethe-Institut, Gray Area, and the Fotomuseum Winterthur.
• Final projects will receive an Artivive account that comes with five free artworks.

SCHEDULE

• Submissions open: March 1, 2021
• Extended submission deadline: May 23, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PT
• Announcement of the winners: June 11, 2021
• Online exhibition opening: July 2, 2021

AUGMENTED REALITY WORKSHOP WITH ARTIVIVE

• Two FREE workshops will guide participants through new approaches to storytelling with augmented reality using 2D and 3D animations and videos. These introductory workshops require no prior experience and will introduce artists, graphic designers, illustrators, and the general public to the app and how to use it to bring their projects to life.
• Dates: March 19, 2021 at 10 a.m. PST (6 p.m. CT); April 7, 2021 at 9 a.m. PST (6 p.m. CEST); May 4, 2021 at 9 a.m. PST (6 p.m. CEST)
• Register for the workshops here.
• Please note: Workshop recordings will be available to all who registered upon request. Please reach out to us via email if you are interested in receiving a link.

QUESTIONS?

Please email us at: support@artivive.com