Partying in Taiwan with the help of technology
Icelanders have a unique opportunity of going out for a short while on Saturday with the help of technology and the unique collaboration between artists and
research scientists in Iceland, the United Kingdom and Taiwan. This event is part of a research project at the University of Iceland connected to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on art life in Iceland.
Most countries in the world, including Iceland, have been dealing with an increased number of corona infections with the limitations on gatherings it entails, which has its effect on both cultural and economic life. This does, however, not apply to the island of Taiwan off the coast of China as the local government has been able to keep the virus at bay for a while now, which means that the inhabitants can gather and party.
To allow more people to enjoy the freedom of the Taiwanese; Icelandic, Taiwanese, and British artists and research scientists have joined hands and organised the event Out of Sync that takes place at the same time in the gallery Mengi at Óðinsgata 2, and on the dance floor in FUL in Taipei on Saturday.
The event takes place between 4 and 6 P.M. in Iceland when the clock is midnight to 2 A.M. in the morning in Taiwan. Guests in Mengi will be invited to step into a cubicle, where you will join a crowd on the Taipei dance floor under the rhythmical tones of Hermigervill and experience the atmosphere together with the performers Lin Sulian and Jian Shihan recording life from Taiwan as things are happening. The rest of the world is invited to join through a VR rendered live stream with technology from VOLTA Audio owned by Owen Hindley and Yuli Levtov.
Uta Reichardt, post-doc at the University of Iceland Institute for Sustainability Studies, is among the organisers which is linked to a research project she is working on with Rene Boonekamp. The project looks at the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector in Iceland, with special focus on space-related performances.
As the event lasts only two hours in Mengi each guest is only allocated four minutes inside the cubicle and those interested must book ahead online. The installation will be held in accordance with the current COVID health & safety regulations in Iceland and masks and disinfection are obligatory on-site.
Uta Reichardt, post-doc at the University of Iceland Institute for Sustainability Studies, is among the organisers which is linked to a research project she is working on with Rene Boonekamp. The project looks at the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector in Iceland, with special focus on space-related performances. Uta has worked closely with the Iceland University of the Arts in her research and other artists and scientists all over the world. This project examines how to develop new ways to present art and organise events in times of gathering restrictions and disasters.
The event was generously funded by the NORDRESS NSSA Academy, led by research scientists at the University of Iceland and aims at enhancing resilience in Nordic communities in the face of natural disasters, and the Nordic Culture Fund PULS.
