Data | Art symposium explores the entanglements of data and artistic, scientific, and curatorial practices as a critical examination of how data configures aesthetic, social, and epistemic structures.

Bringing together artists, curators, scientists, designers, and technologists, this symposium examines the material, political, and poetic dimensions of data in contemporary art and curatorial strategies. Hosted by BarabásiLab and metaLAB, Data | Art is a space for exchange and reflection on the ways in which data is collected, interpreted, and mobilized - shaping not only images and narratives, but also institutions, disciplines, and lived realities.

At a time when data permeates every aspect of life—from structuring knowledge to informing AI—Data | Art asks: How does data not only represent reality, but also produce it? What artistic and institutional strategies are emerging in response to its influence? And how can we engage with data artistically, critically, poetically, and politically?

Schedule
June 11, 2025

08:30 – 09:00 Registration & Welcome (Day 1)
09:00 – 09:15 Opening Remarks
09:15 – 10:15 Panel 1: Data as Artistic Medium, Moderator: Kim Albrecht, Andrea Lipps, Paolo Cirio, Dietmar Offenhuber
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:00 One-by-One with Carlo Ratti, Moderator: Sarah Williams – Data and Venice Biennale
11:00 – 11:30 PechaKucha
11:30 – 13:00 Lunch + Immersive Art Installation
13:00 – 14:00 Panel 2: The Pattern of the Art World, Moderator: Albert Laszlo Barabasi, Mitali Banerjee, Ahmed Elgammal, Michael Connor, Burak Arikan
14:00 – 14:15 Break
14:15 – 14:45 PechaKucha
14:45 – 15:00 Break
15:00 – 16:00 Panel 3: Museums & the Public, Moderator: András Szántó Alistair Hudson, Christl Baur
16:00 – 16:15 PechaKucha
16:15 – 16:25 Closing Remarks & Adjourn
17:00 Reception
16:25 Immersive Art Installation

June 12, 2025
08:30 – 09:00 Registration & Welcome (Day 2)
09:00 – 09:15 Opening Remarks & Logistics
09:15 – 09:45 One-by-One with Refik Anatol
09:45 – 10:00 Break
10:00 – 11:00 Panel 4: Data Transformed by AI, Moderator: Ben Davis
Christiane Paul, Fernanda Viégas, Mauro Martino
11:00 – 11:30 PechaKucha
11:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Panel 5: Databases in Contemporary Art, Moderator: Maximilian Schich, Marek Claassen, Mindy Seu
14:00 – 14:15 Break
14:15 – 14:45 PechaKucha
14:45 – 15:00 Break
15:00 – 16:00 Panel 6: From Datavis to DataArt, Moderator: Michael John Gorman, Peter Hall, Paolo Ciuccarelli, Eric Rodenbeck
16:00 – 17:00 Closing Remarks: Future of Data Art Discussion

Tickets: Tickets are available for either day of the symposium or for both days at a discounted rate. Find tickets and event details at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashnetg/static/storefront/SFCCNR/catalog

If you have any questions feel free to reach us at dataartsymposiumgmail.com