The artist talk by Verena Friedrich (Academy of Media Arts Cologne) and response by Alison Powell (LSE) is taking place connection with the exhibition ERBSENZÄHLER Quality Sorter at Södertörn’s ArtSpace.

The seminar starts with a demonstration of the installation at Art Space and then continues at ME358 with a talk by Verena Friedrich introducing her work. Alison Powell will give a response. The seminar session will be moderated by Anne Kaun (Södertörn).

In the exhibition, the EZ Quality Sorter V2 as part of the ERBSENZÄHLER (EN: bean counter; SE ärträknaren, lit.: pea counter) project, explores the increasing quantification of life through mathematical-technical procedures and systems— from counting and sorting to statistics, to computer-aided processes—and the worldview that goes along with it.

Verena Friedrich is an artist and assistant professor at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Germany. Her time-based installations blend organic, electronic, and sculptural media, and explore the possibilities and limits of technological intervention and control. Her works have been featured in exhibitions, media art festivals, and conferences around the world. She has received several awards and grants, including a work stipend from Kunstfonds Foundation, and the International Media Award for Science and Art from ZKM Karlsruhe. Her project EZ Quality Sorter V2 has received an honorary mention in the category “Artificial Intelligence & Life Art” at the 2023 Prix Ars Electronica Linz and was previously presented at the Matsudo Art Science Festival “Seeds of Hope” in Japan.

Dr Alison Powell is Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE, where she also serves as Programme Director for the MSc Media and Communications (Data and Society). She researches rights, ethics and values in technology design - focusing on living well together in cities and imagining alternative media futures.

The Exhibition “Verena Friedrich. ERBSENZÄHLER Kvalitetssorterare V2” is produced by Art Space Södertörn in cooperation with the research projects The Digital Welfare State and Automating Welfare, managed by Prof. Anne Kaun and the research platform Digital Transformations. Art Space Södertörn (MA513) is open weekdays 10.00-16.00 at Södertörn University Campus.