Opening of the exhibition of the winning works: 7. 9. 2017, 6.30 pm (until 17. 9. 2017)
OK Centre for Contemporary Art, OK Platz 1, Linz

Prix Ars Electronica award ceremony: 8. 9. 2017, 18.30
Brucknerhaus, Untere Donaulande 7, Linz

Maja Smrekar was awarded the Golden Nica Award in the hybrid art category at the Ars Electronica festival for her art project ‘K-9_topology‘. The Ars Electronica Gala, which represents the highest recognition in the field of contemporary research art, took place in the cultural centre Brucknerhaus in Linz, while the awarded works were presented at the CyberArts17 exhibition in the OK Centre of Contemporary Art, which was the main focus of the festival.

In her opus ‘K-9_topology’ – in which she addressed the parallel evolution of mankind and dogs as well as the various cultural points the two share – Maja Smrekar created the conditions for contemplating a society that would be based on a more balanced coexistence between mankind and the surrounding ecosystem. In a series of projects executed over the past four years Maja contemplated the relation between mankind and the non-human other. She confronted us with a dystrophic projection of the future inhabited with a progressive biotechnological hybrid species with a social status en par to humans. The thesis that we follow through the entire opus is fuelled by biotechnological facts as well as thoughts on the hybridism of humans and animals which is fuelled by mythological stories that are deeply embedded in the subconscious of the Western culture. 

K-9_topology is a true hybrid work of art with a deep bio-political message that opens new possibilities for the ethical reconsideration of the biotechnologically designed life forms. More / Video