Digital policy coordinator of the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, Claudio Prado gives an overview of the digital culture department and how it works. Digital department looks on technology as a tool of social and cultural transformation.
RESEARCH IN FREE OPEN CULTURE EXCHANGE (Brasil >< Hrvatska) photos from 13th March to 11th April ’07 can be seen online on the photolog web >>
Last stop at our travel is Sao Paulo, biggest town in Brazil, and fifth in the world.
On Thursday 05/04/07 an event has been organized by Drica Velose, Gastao Frota, Junia May Teixeira, Tanja Topolovec and Kruno Jost. Event was a collaborative work that included multimedia installation, audio and stage set, with digital visualization including feedback image.
During the evening some of the visitors followed Gastaos performance influence and started interacting with the visualization and stage set. In the atmosphere similar to Fluxus event, with naturally inborn feeling for interacting with the surrounding and taking part in action, visitors were discussing, reacting, taking part and helping with ongoing changes of the event.
Different possibilities for live audio performance were shown in softwe such as: Jack, Creox, Jack Rack, Freebirth, Mixx and Darksnow on Linux as well as Rektor and Battery in Windows. Basics of audio editing and recordning were done in Audacity and Ardour.
Preparation for the event that is planed for the weekend are in progress – sugesstion to make an interactive event, party and multimedi exhibition, all in one, went on to brainstorming with the group of artist and activists.
Possibilities of using digital video cameras, mobile devices, digital sound, software such sa Resolume for VJing, as well as analoug devices and recyicled material for scenography are all carefully scetched.
Capital of state Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (beautiful horizon) is third largest city of Brazil.
Espaço Y (Estilingue) is independent space that is orginized at the principle of volontary collaborative work in the new media culture as well as social activities. It is located in a building with a long history of community activities, that was aboundened at the time of dictatorship. At present commercial acctivities are mainly reserved for ground floors, while upper floors are preety much empty.
Estrilingue is space that is accepting proposals for different workshops that can help community gatthered around it, but also broather community of people that are in and around the building. A series of cinema evenings are organized, as well as other activities.
Alexandre Freire, one of the participants on the Upgrade!Salvador gives a 10 minute insight into history and preasent of the workgroup des).(centro.
During lat week of March 2007. a meeting was held in Salvador, Bahia. DesCentro members have met in order to make a firm base (functional as well as legislative) on further development of this network.
DesCentro is de-centralized organizational node of collaborative actions, inserted in broader context of Brazilian media activism. This context is formed by group of organizations, researchers, activists, teachers, hackers and artists coming from all regions of the country. More details on DesCentro.
Main DesCentro’s goal is to develop the methodological structural and approach to optimize network that has been working together for more than five years, avoiding the downsides of common institutionalization. Even the way DesCentro was established is deep criticism to the well-known NGO “show business”. Another situation DesCentro intends to provide is ways for people to carry out independent research and practice and still earn for their living, respecting the principles of collaboration, de-centralization, diversity and freedom.
History of DesCentro has been a collective work of different groups and collectives. Through meetings and online contacts good conections were established inside Brazil as well as in the world, mainly India and Netherlands. Members took part in events such as Media Tactica Brasil, Next5Minutes4 in Amsterdam, Alternative Law Forum and Submidialogia.
In October 2005. Submidialogia happened in Campinas, Brazil. A group formed by members of Metareciclagem, Tactical Media and SubmÃdia emerged and decided to work together within the perspective of developing an organizing node for the Brazilian critical media networks, in to order to promote the development of tactical media exchange and projects.
Invitation for international DesCenters
The Brazilian Art and Technology Experience: A Chronological List of Artistic Experiments with Technosciences in Brazil, by Eduardo Kac. Compiled February 1986.
Find more about articles on the topic of Brazilian artists working with electronics and technology on the Leonardo website.
Movie about free radio in Brasil by Bruno Tarin >>