Luiz Zanotello
Luiz Zanotello's (*1986, Brazil) current artistic research stems from a poetics of abyss and time. Departing from pluriversal perspectives of experience, his practice often unfolds as installations and performative gestures that inquire into the paradoxical nature of language, matter and time. By reappropriating methods from the intersections of art, science, and technology, he explores new constellations of perceiving the present time and probing for its critical contingencies. Based in Berlin (DE), he is currently a PhD Candidate in Artistic Research at the University of the Arts Bremen (DE) together with the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (Leiden University and Royal Academy of Art, NL) funded by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.
His work has been shown in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (HR), the Museum of Applied Arts Vienna (AT), and Cidade das Artes in Rio de Janeiro (BR). He was Assistant Professor for New Media at the Berlin University of the Arts (DE) for six years, as well as a DAAD scholarship holder, a Petra & Dieter Frese Stiftung Preis awardee, an artistic resident of the European Media Art Platform, among others. He holds a BA in Design from the São Paulo State University (BR) and an MA in Digital Media from the University of the Arts Bremen (DE).
Portfolio: https://luizzanotello.com/
2021 - PhD Candidate at HfK Bremen, in partnership with PhDArts (Leiden University + KABK), funded by the Studienstiftung.
2017 - Self-employed Media Artist in Berlin.
2017 - 2023 Assistant Professor for New Media at UdK Berlin.
2016 - 2017 Tutor for “Media Theory” and “Interaction/Space” at HfK Bremen.
2014 - 2017 Master of Arts in Digital Media at HfK Bremen.
2013 - 2014 Interaction Designer at D3 / Spaces and Creatures.
2010 - 2012 Freelance Motion Designer and Developer at Lobo / Vetor Zero / Mol / Abril.
2007 - 2009 Internship in Web Design and Development at Beta ID / MSTech.
2007 - 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Design at São Paulo State University.
2001 - 2003 Gymnasium + Technical Education in Informatics at Divino Salvador College.
1986 - Born in Jundiaí, Brazil.
Publications
2023 A knot in Motion. Web art and video. Akademie Schloss Solitude. Bremen, DE.
2023 Through the third margin. Performance. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst. Bremen, DE.
2023 Choreography for the unknown. Mixed media installation. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst. Bremen, DE.
2022 From the abyss to the afterglow: on the practice of vibrant contemplation as a mode of artistic research. Scientific article.
2022 Every Abyss is a poem yet unfinished. Mixed media installation. Dauerwelle. Bremen, DE.
2022 That which stays. Performance. Dauerwelle. Bremen, DE.
2022 New hypothesis for Baucis. Mixed media installation. Gallery Circa 106. Bremen, DE.
2021 Teatime: On Dislocated Discourses and Silent Parliaments. Discourse, round table.
Book chapter. In I. Kukric, & A. Sick, The Dynamic Archive 03 (pp 121-151). University of the Arts Bremen.
Round table (2020) at The Dynamic Archive, Circa 106. Bremen, DE.
2020 On Reading and Writing, on Record and Paradox: An Imaginary Habitat of Recognition.
Book chapter. Textem Verlag. Hamburg, DE.
2019 Inspecting Material Unconsciousness. Photographic research. The Dynamic Archive.
2018 Bursting Matters. Artistic research, machine learning, material interactions.
With support of Goethe-Institut, KIKK Festival, Les Abattoirs de Bomel.
2018 Copper Litanies. Installation, material interactions.
At Graphic Art Colony for Youth.
2018 The Outlier Manifesto. Manifesto, printed publication.
"NEVERTHELESS. 17 Manifestos" (2018). Textem Verlag. Hamburg, DE.
2017 A Habitat of Recognition. MA Thesis, kinetic installation, artistic research.
University of the Arts Bremen.
2016 The Aerographer. Kinetic installation, artistic research.
2015 The New Velocity. Interactive installation, design research.
2015 Data aesthetics and the role of narration in generative artefacts. Scientific article
V!RUS Magazine, n. 11 (2015). São Carlos, BR.
2015 Towards the Ungraspable. Manifesto, printed publication.
“20 Manifestos” (2015). University of the Arts Bremen.
2015 Hafenkante. Installation, design research.
2015 10 Million Volts. Installation, with Mariana Basso.
2014 Love Project. 3d Printed objects and interactive installation at D3 / Spaces and Creatures.
2014 SoDA Generative Posters. Generative design, robotics, at D3 / Spaces and Creatures.
2012 Nama. BA Thesis, artistic research, interactive installation, at São Paulo State University.
2011 N.A.V.E. Generative map application, interactive installation, at FILE Festival 2011.
Exhibitions and Performances
(2024) Hydromedia. Group exhibition. Technische Sammlungen Dresden. Dresden, DE.
(2024) Solo exhibition. GNRation. Braga, PT.
(2024) Hydromedia. Group exhibition. Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe, DE.
(2024) Personal Structures Biennial. Group exhibition. Venice, IT.
(2024) Nearly all types of honey crystalize. Group exhibition. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst. Bremen, DE.
2023 Lange Nacht der Bremer Museen. Performance. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst. Bremen, DE.
2023 A leap in three degrees. Solo exhibition. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst. Bremen, DE.
2022 Halbe Halbe. Group exhibition/performance. Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Dauerwelle. Bremen, DE.
2022 From within, from afar, all at once. Group exhibition. Gallery Circa 106. Bremen, DE.
2020 Instability. Group exhibition. Fiber Festival. Tolhuistuin. Amsterdam, NL.
2020 Version Room. Online exhibition. Gallery Circa 106. Bremen, DE.
2018 Machines are Not Alone. Group exhibition. Museum of Contemporary Art. Zagreb, HR.
2018 Ein Archiv von Hitze und Kälte. ACC Galerie. Group exhibition. Bauhaus 100. Weimar, DE.
2018 (Un)natural Encounters. Group exhibition. Galerie Herold. Bremen, DE.
2018 Proklamation, Ja!. Group exhibition. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2018 Digital Provocateur. Group exhibition. The Wrong Festival. Cidade das Artes. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
2017 LAB30. Group exhibition. Kulturhaus Abraxas. Augsburg, DE.
2017 Prima Materia. Group exhibition. Fiber Festival. Looiersgracht 60. Amsterdam, NL.
2017 INIT. Group exhibition. European Media Art Festival. Hase29. Osnabrück, DE.
2017 Hochschultage. Group exhibition. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2017 Dark Science. Group exhibition. Transmediale/CTM Vorspiel. Spektrum. Berlin, DE.
2016 Fine Tuning of Marble. Group performance. Resonate Festival. Kinoteka. Belgrade, RS.
2016 Hochschultage. Group exhibition. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2016 Love Project. Group exhibition. Dubai Design Week. Dubai Design District. Dubai, UAE.
2016 Hacks + Hoaxes. Group exhibition. Galerie Herold. Bremen, DE.
2015 Re-Flux. Group exhibition. ISWC 2015. Osaka, JP.
2015 20 Manifestos. Group performance. Jahresaustellung 15. Domshof. Bremen, DE.
2015 Hochschultage. Group exhibition. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2015 New Bremen New Cairo. Group exhibition. Immigration Office. Bremen, DE.
2015 “M”. Love is a Muscle. Group performance. Theater Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2015 “M”. Love is a Muscle. Group performance. Schwankhalle Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2014 Love Project. Exhibition. Galeria Baró. São Paulo, BR.
2013 Conecta. Group exhibition. Tech Art Lab. The Wrong Festival. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
2013 Sonic Fabric. Group exhibition. Museum of Applied Arts Vienna. Vienna, AT.
2012 FILE Festival. Group exhibition. Oi Futuro. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
2012 FILE Festival. Group exhibition. Centro Cultural Fiesp. São Paulo, BR.
2011 Festival do Minuto. Traveling group exhibition. Various cities, BR.
Prizes, Residencies and Scholarships
2023-26 PhD Scholarship (Promotionsstipendium) Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. Bonn, DE.
2023 Crystal Room: Artistic Residency
Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst (GAK Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst). Bremen, DE.
2022 Web Residency: »Magical Hackerism or The Elasticity of Resilience«
Akademie Schloss Solitude. Stuttgart, DE.
2022 Neustart Kultur Stipendium: Modulo D: Digitale Vermittlungsformate.
Deutschen Künstlerbund. Berlin, DE.
2021 Bildende Kunst - Recherchestipendium 2021.
Berlin’s Senate Department for Culture and Europe. Berlin, DE.
2019 Jury Selection: Japan Media Arts Festival Award: Art Division
Project “A Habitat of Recognition”. Japan’s Agency of Cultural Affairs. Tokyo, JP.
2018 Dieter-Frese Stiftung Preis 2018 (first place)
Project “A Habitat of Recognition”. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2018 Artistic Residency in Speculative Design
Grant by Goethe-Institut, KIKK Festival, Les Abattoirs de Bomel. Namur, BE.
2017 Hochschulpreis Digitale Medien 2017 (first prize)
Project “The Aerographer”. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2017 Artistic Residency at Graphic Art Colony for Youth
Grant by Ministry of Culture of Serbia, University of the Arts Bremen. Prolom Banja, RS.
2017 Nominee: German Design Award
German Design Council. Frankfurt am Main, DE.
2015 Hochschulpreis Digitale Medien 2015 (shared prize)
Project “Hafenkante”. University of the Arts Bremen. Bremen, DE.
2014 DAAD Scholarship for Masters Studies in the Arts (Studienstipendien für Künstler)
German Academic Exchange Service. Bonn, DE. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
2007 PROEX Scholarship for Assistant Researcher
São Paulo State University. Bauru, BR.
Talks, Teaching and Workshops
2023 Knotting motion, performance-lecture and workshop held at Akademie Schloss Solitude.
2023 New Media: Compost & Cosmos, with Agnes Meyer-Brandis at UdK Berlin.
2023 Critical Media: Earthing our way back, at UdK Berlin.
2022 New Media: Carte Blanche, with Jussi Ängeslevä at UdK Berlin.
2022 Teaching, “Critical Media: Matters of Thinking” at UdK Berlin..
2022 Teaching, “Carte Blanche”, with Jussi Ängeslevä at UdK Berlin.
2022 Teaching, “Critical Media: Time Apparatus” at UdK Berlin.
2022 Teaching, “Legacy”, with Jussi Ängeslevä at UdK Berlin.
2021 Artist talk, online lecture and interview at Maestría Diseño Interativo at University of Buenos Aires.
2021 Teaching, “Critical Media: New Wilderness” at UdK Berlin.
2021 Teaching, “Island of Things” with Jussi Ängeslevä at UdK Berlin.
2020 Teaching, “Designed Uncertainty” at UdK Berlin.
2020 Teaching, “Concretely Unimaginable” with Jussi Ängeslevä at UdK Berlin.
2020 Teaching, “Micro/Macro” at UdK Berlin.
2020 Teaching, “Expanding Spaces” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2019 Teaching, “Poetics of Repetition” at UdK Berlin.
2019 Teaching, “Media Minimalism” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2019 Teaching, “Nomadic Cartography” at UdK Berlin.
2019 Teaching, “Orientation, Navigation, Information” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2019 Guest Jury, “Digital Media Hochschulpreis 2019” at the University of the Arts Bremen.
2018 Panel, “Autonomous Relations” at Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, HR.
2018 Teaching, “Automate! Multiply! Accelerate!” at UdK Berlin.
2018 Teaching, “Carte Blanche” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2018 Talk, “The Burst” at the Centre Culturel de Namur, Namur, BE.
2018 Teaching, “Machinic Diffractions” at UdK Berlin.
2018 Teaching, “Mirror - Material, Medium, Metaphor” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2018 Teaching, “The Electronics Laboratory” at UdK Berlin.
2018 Talk, “Makin Kin: on Digital Materiality”, alumni talks at University of the Arts Bremen.
2017 Teaching, “Things that Learn” at UdK Berlin.
2017 Teaching, “Artificial Intelligence in Art/Design” with Prof. Sauter at UdK Berlin.
2017 Workshop, “The Non-Human Interference Task-Force” at UdK Berlin.
2017 Mediation, “Monday Meetups: On Artificial Intelligence” at UdK Berlin.
2017 Workshop, “My Dream of a Mechanical Duck” University of the Arts Bremen.
2016 Tutoring, “Interaktion + Raum” with Prof. Dennis Paul at University of the Arts Bremen.
2017 Tutoring, “Media Theory” with Prof. Dr. Andrea Sick at University of the Arts Bremen.
2016 Workshop, “Physical Computing with Arduino” at University of the Arts Bremen.
2016 Talk, “Digital eruption” at the Belas Artes University, São Paulo, BR.
2016 Guest talk, “Prototyping as Prosthesis for Thinking” at the Fablab Bremen.
2016 Tutoring, “Physical Computing with Arduino” at University of the Arts Bremen.
2016 Talk, “Of Air and Objects” during Hochschultage 2016 at University of the Arts Bremen.
2013 Talk, “Collectivity” with Diego Morales and Vinicius Matsuei at São Paulo State University.
2010 Mediation, “Design Education” during “Megafônicas Bauru” at São Paulo State University.
2010 Workshop, “Emergence: the network dynamics applied” at the N Design Curitiba 2010.
2009 Organizing committee, “Megafônicas Bauru” at the São Paulo State University.
2008 Workshop, “Pro-activity and the Student Movement” at the Interdesigners 2008.
2008 Founder, “CADUNESP”, free students’ union at São Paulo State University.
"A knot was spotted between earth and sky, breaking the horizon together-apart, turning the boundaries between the inside and outside into one. The knot can be seen and heard only at precise angles and atmospheric conditions." (...)
From across the river, a poem is read by the artist to a device that transduces voice (sound) waves into light. The beam crosses the river and scatters within the atmospheric conditions in between, transforming through the indeterminacy of sunlight, rain, wind, and the movements in-between. Once at the other side, light waves are in present time transduced back into voice, this time together-apart with the world in-between.
The growing archive and web-poem are born out of a research into the material, environmental, discursive and poetic accidents around one object of interest: the tropical rain. Build upon the fiction of a knot tied between the two tropical lines along the Atlantic forest in Jundiaí (BR) and the tropical desert in El Kharja oasis (EG), the project gathers and ties together voices from artists based within the tropics speaking with and about the tropical rain through their local perspectives.
Web-poem: https://webresidencies.akademie-solitude.de/knot-in-motion/
More: https://luizzanotello.com/knot-in-motion/
Mixed-media installation (custom infrared heating light, electronics, video, text)
Departing from a personal story of loss, the installation investigates corazonar (the warming up of reason), mourning, and time beyond the abyssal line of thought that linearizes past, present and future. A growing archive of audiovisual recordings displaying the mundane passage of day into night is displaced asynchronously on the ground juxtaposed to the recordings of water flowing in contradictory directions. Reflected on its surfaces, a warming light shines in different intensities, displaying within the present the memory of a spoken poem transduced into light. Reflecting upon the contradictory enactments of time, a series of unfinished poems and auto-ethnographic essays are placed on the floor besides it.
The installation is activated by a performance during the opening investigating the afterglow as a trope of liminal time. afterglow as a trope of liminal time. The performance is an attempt of conjuring corazonar within the artist's practice by blurring the boundaries between personally felt and culturally experienced concepts of affect, memory and time.
More: https://luizzanotello.com/every-abyss-is-a-poem-yet-unfinished/
Mixed-media installation (photography, slide projector, custom electronics, text, mirror foil, steel).
The point of departure for the work is Italo Calvino's description of the city of Baucis (Calvino, 1972). In a city held up high where nothing touches the earth except for its shadows, the inhabitants now look from afar and long in the absence of a land that existed before their memory. The work proposes to shed light in the anthroposcenic relationship between earth and the making of a city vis-à-vis the dichotomy of thought and matter. By projecting in time analog photos of a man-altered landscape (Jänschewalde) and its estranged, infrastructural earth on top of a mirrored surface, a liquid landscape unfolds with the visitors as inhabitants. The speed of transition between the projected images is affected by the soundscape of constructions sites surrounding the exhibition venue.
https://luizzanotello.com/new-hypothesis-for-baucis/
Mixed-media installation (silica sand, iron powder, steel, PLA, wood, acrylic, electronics)
The installation enacts an infrastructural imaginary where an ore of granule particles (silica and iron) is written and read as a granular record. The imaginary consists of a coupled machine that reads the ore by performing its erosion and magnetic sorting layer by layer, while simultaneously writing the ore by depositing its residue sediments linearly according to the measured values. Manual labor is needed for exchanging what was read as an ore with what is written as one, and what was written as an ore with what is read as one in order for the process to continue. The recognition of the ore as a record paradoxically requires its dismantling, and its new writing is prone to the resilience of its residues, entangled labor, and discrete measured values. The ore and the record alter iteratively upon each cycle, thus exhibiting the agencies of matter itself and how it entangles with information.
More: https://luizzanotello.com/a-habitat-of-recognition/
Mixed-media installation (hot-wire anemometers, linear motion systems, metric bands, electronics, plastic flag)
The Aerographer maps the air to establish a subtle territory of uncertainty. The kinetic installation measures the airflow at different locations, and translates their differences to the mechanical motion of an array of nodes. The nodes travel on different axis shifting connected lines, thus unfolding a networked topography of the air in constant adaptation and change. The installation explores the chaotic behavior of the air for unfolding an unstable tangible map of a fictitious territory, and deals spatially with the uncertainty that arises from a space of constantly shifting boundaries that react with the air.