The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is ready to host ISEA2018 (International Symposium on Electronic Art) which is coming to Durban from Saturday, 23 to Saturday, 30 June 2018 creating a city-wide showcase of dozens of exhibitions, events, installations, walks, festivals and activities, and a major global conference on new media art, all talking to the theme of Intersections.

This academic symposium will be held at DUT’s City Campus (25-27 June 2018) comprising of peer-reviewed papers, panels and keynote presentations for registered delegates travelling from around the world.

The academic symposium will be opened by the DUT Faculty of Arts and Design, Executive Dean, Dr René Smith, and it will feature renowned international speakers from across the globe. They will be sharing ground-breaking peer-reviewed papers and engage in robust panel discussions, focusing on topics such the innovation of new media, digital art, films, arts in public spaces and many more.

Dr Smith, said the sub-themes of hybridisation and purity will form part and parcel of ISEA2018. “The sub-theme provides for contributions reflecting the purity of numbers, code and technology interfacing with art, as well as hybridisation in relation to art, science and technology. This sub-theme includes contributions on identities, diversity and pluralism, migration and urbanisation as well as notions of democracies – all in relation to art, science and technology,” said Dr Smith.

“Our aim is to offer a platform for students to interact with international and locally renowned artists and designers,” added Dr Smith.

ISEA2018 is the first ISEA to be held in the African sub-continent. Hosted in venues across Durban, this event will incorporate the fifth iteration of the Durban University of Technology Digital Festival (DigiFest) and Innovate Durban’s 2018 Innovation Festival (IF Durban) in a strategy to build a local partnership and legacy.

Pictured: Server Farms – part of the KZNSA Gallery takeover

Nduduzo Ndlovu