#VIRTUALARTIM: ANONYMOUS CHAT #2 WITH AGHABABA BAGHIROV AND JOSHUA DYSON

YARAT Contemporary Art Space announces the second anonymous virtual chat #2 on the topic of “Data Dreams” with artists Aghababa Baghirov and Joshua Dyson as part of the exhibition “I might be staring at infinity (or the backs of my own eyelids)” at Virtual ARTIM project space. 

Artists: Aghababa Baghirov & Joshua Dyson

Moderator: Zahra Mammadova

Language: English and Azerbaijani

Location: Virtual ARTIM project space (Download the link: Windows: https://bit.ly/3dJ8yGf / Mac: https://bit.ly/3h4BElj)

What dreams are bothering you in these unusual times? What is going on in your subconscious when you are locked down? Phobias, panic attacks, claustrophobic scenarios…. The virtual space offers new forms of expression, but also new conceptions for nightmares, dark future scenarios and fantasies. What is your vision of digital technology and what impact do you think it will have on our subconscious mind? According to neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, conscious thoughts co-exist alongside other thoughts that we are often unaware of.  Our unconscious mind, where all the hidden/suppressed desires, traumas, primal urges and instincts are stored, manifests itself in dreams that seek to acquire the parts of itself that it lacks. However, unlike the Freudian school of thought, which assumes that desires are a passive part of unconsciousness, French philosopher Felix Guattari critiques this concept, proposing that desires are something produced under the term “machinic unconsciousness, desiring machines”.   For Felix Guattari, unconsciousness is like a factory of machines producing desires, which are in constant flow and collective rather than individual. We invite you to speculate and discuss with our artists on the topic of data dreams  in relation to dreams and desires, technology, and  structures of power.

Joshua Dyson (b.1998, Dublin) is a sculptor and performer who has studied in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and Athens University of Fine Arts. He uses closely available materials to compose a narrative and create a space that can be inhabited and activated. He creates structures, installations, and objects to explore themes of digital-age intimacy, western world psycho-politics, and détournement.

Recently Dyson has allowed the COVID-19 situation to influence how his work is being produced and communicated. This has led to a focus on isolated routines, current anthropology, and altered reality.

Aghababa Baghirov (b. 1997, Baku) focuses mainly on digital art, VR / AR, video games, programming, 3D modeling, and drawing. He graduated from Baku State University with a degree in Computer Science. After graduation, he has focused on computer games and virtual reality technology. These interests came from his childhood, and at the age of 12 he developed his first computer games. Through his great interest in contemporary art, Aghababa makes connections between technology and art. His main source of inspiration is the relationship between humans, nature and technology. He has exhibited in group exhibitions at Yarat Studios (2019/2020) and at Khachmaz State Gallery (2020).

Virtual Anonymous Chat

The anonymous chat creates a room for discussion inside the virtual exhibition “I might be staring at Infinity” with a group of people who can hide their real identify through virtual avatars and thus speak their opinion freely without any inhibition. The purpose of the chat is to hold a series of informal, discussion-like events about contradicting and intriguing social topics related to ongoing debates in the art world. The secret meetings involve one or two artists with a moderator guiding the discussion.

If you wish to participate in the discussions, please follow the link for registration and fill in the questionnaire. (AZE https://bit.ly/3daVuZe 

ENG https://bit.ly/3eeC8Ui )

*Please note that the amount of participants is limited and you need to subscribe before 15^th of July to be able to participate.

*After registration, you will receive an email with time and date and how to access the event.