Projects

The Arctic Perspective Initiative (API) aims to empower local citizens of the North via open and free media, communications and sensing technologies.

API is the brainchild of artists Marko Peljhan and Matthew Biederman. The work group comprises HMKV, Germany, The Arts Catalyst, UK, Projekt Atol, Slovenia, Lorna, Iceland, and C-TASC, Canada.

API is working to design and create a mobile media lab and living unit that can be used to support nomadic lifestyles: working and living “on the land” away from established Arctic settlements. The nomadic media units will be powered with renewable energy sources and will leave virtually no adverse ecological footprint, while enabling filmmaking, media production, subsistence hunting, and environmental observation. For example, the unit could provide a hunter living on the land the ability to stream, in real time, their personal story to the internet, giving the world the opportunity to understand the reality of the Canadian Arctic directly from the people living there. The unit’s systems will enable communities to do their own environmental monitoring, allowing them to gain an even greater understanding of how their local environment is being shaped by the changing climate.

The API process is a collaborative one. We are working with the Igloolik community, in Nunavut, Northern Canada, to develop the uses, design and program of the media unit. In August 2009, members from the API were invited to participate on a trip throughout Sikusiilaarmiut imanga, Nunavut, to visit traditional camps with local community members, elders and youth.

During 2009, API held an international open design competition for the mobile unit, receiving more than 100 entries from over 30 countries. An international jury decided on three prize-winners: Richard Carbonnier (Canada), Giuseppe Mecca (Italy) and Catherine Rannou (France).

In 2010, the API will return to Nunavut to consult community members on unit designs, test open communications networks, remote sensing systems, and coordinate media literacy workshops. The prototype unit is scheduled to be delivered and tested during the winter of 2010 in Igloolik, Nunavut, Northern Canada.

Exhibitions & Publications

Exhibitions and presentations from the project are taking place in 2010 in London, Montreal, and Dortmund, directing public attention to the cultural, political and ecological significance of the Arctic and its native cultures. In Dortmund, this will take place in the framework of European Capital of Culture RUHR 2010 and the international media-art conference ISEA 2010. Further dates and details to be confirmed.

A series of small publications, covering key ideas in the various fields: architecture, circumpolar culture, open source technologies/remote sensing, are also being produced.

Support

API is supported by the European Commission Culture 2007, City of Dortmund, Slovenian Ministry of Culture and Arts Council England.

API Project Website

www.arcticperspective.org

Links to artists' websites:

Matthew Biederman