Open Lab Egypt

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As abbreviated “OLE”, Open Lab Egypt is a long­term project meant to establish a laboratory for the development of digital arts in Egypt, promoting the use of Open Source tools in audiovisual creation. It aims to raise a local community in Cairo of autonomous people that can start a support for production of interactive environments and electronic interfaces in the future, using all the accessible technologies that might be necessary.

The project is intended for art students, artists, designers, educators, engineers, and scientists contributing to the development of cultural production in local communities of the Arabic speaking regions.

Open Lab Egypt started its !"#$ activities in Cairo, by launching an intensive 14 days workshop, which hosted 20 participants and took place at the Rooftop studios.

Resulted in more than 15 remarkable demonstrations of prototypes. It implemented an introduction to the use of sensors for detecting various actions of people and transform it to digital input data through (Arduino) activating various video and audio creations or even remote other physical environments. Training and instruction were held by Alex Posada and Sergi Lario.

Followed by another 10 days in Alexandria with 10 Participants and took place in Qafelat Hala and L’Atelier d’Alexandrie venues, the workshop was based on Computer vision techniques and camera detection to public space triggering audiovisual materials controlled by PureData.

This workshop was instructed by Yves Degoyon and Lluis Goemez i Bigorda.

A special guest presentation for the Artist Marcel.lí Antúnez Roca, took place as part of the workshop during its second week.

presentation and live performance by Marcellí Antúnez Roca at the Townhouse gallery - factory space 6 December, (2009) · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Sistematurgy is a neologism created by MarcellĂ­ AntĂşnez Roca, that fuses the words system and dramaturgy. To denote the shift in the methodological paradigm entailed by grafting computation onto artistic and scenic practices. http://marceliantunez.com/

Organized by Medrar and Hangar.

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An extended version that took place in Medrar for 40 continuous days gathered 8 participants in one room together with 2 experts for advance training. The goal of this workshop was to assess the enthusiasm within artists towards constructing their own sustainable modules for digital creation, where they can later act as a local capacity of reference and skill.

Two main techniques were taught in the workshop: * Pure Data: real­time multi­media environment and programming language. * Arduino: electronic interface to the real world and control devices.

Some other techniques and technologies were taught: soldering, circuit building (basic level) and sound editing.

Mastered by Yves Degoyon and David Pello

Finally Open Lab Egypt bursts its complicated analog vs. digital arguments to public. The exhibition brings up the reactive sense of computed awareness. Artists who strived enormous mathematical tricks are now shaping their alternative reality using forms of audiovisual interactive installations. Works were developed within OLE’s workshops and was supervised by Yves Degoyon and David Pello.

Curated by: Dia Hamed and Mohamed Allam.

Opening live jam session Popular DJ AbuAsala vs. Ahmed Basiouny.Hashem Kelesh

Mohamed Ezz Dalia Hassan Nork Zakarian Emma Bennany Mohamed Mansour Wensh

During the next year Medrar will be focusing on the construction of a %&'#()*+,#%*)-,$&*$,./0+1,%*"$(*++',#-"2-,*#,*,!3-1,#0#$*(4*5+-,6-1(*, Lab. Currently our Lab room is geared up with basic devices and capabilities to aid the experimentation process within digital creation.

Though, it still requires the presence of local experts whom are able to conduct production of projects and community support.

Medrar is now investigating possibilities of extending the programs of OLE to embed the potency of operating itself. Providing an access for local or regional Media designers, electronic engineers, computer programmers and physics adepts together with artists within the Projects of OLE, will enhance the collaborative environment of creation. Also will support the International cycle of exchange and networking among such specialists.

We believe that OLE will achieve its best out come, when the local praxis goes further beyond contemporary art to invade other disciplines like; theater, applied arts, advertisement or even public infrastructure design.

Other than the educational purposes of OLE, Medrar has plans for running the Lab as a facility that provides service of projects’ production, on the $-)&4()*+,*41,!4*4)(*+,+-2-+#7, An open call for submission will allow young artists to develop their ideas, with the support of tech professionals in the form of gratuitous service. This actually derives from the organization’s mission, as it’s mainly focused at emerging Media Art creators.

86-1"*"9,(#,*,4/4%"/!$,/":*4(;*$(/4,$&*$,#$*"$-1, running activities since 2005. It represents a common cultural corporate and philanthropic platform for young emerging artists in all means of communication, developing experiences and !4*4)(*+,#0%%/"$7,</4#(1-"(4:,$&-,4-)-##($',$/, document the ongoing Contemporary praxis in Egypt and critique based methods, Medrar aims to drive the interest of emerging artists with providing chances of accession and experimentation. We believe we can stimulate the artistic scene in Egypt by focusing on the organization of workshops and festivals that would encourage participation of new faces, locally and internationally. As an artist running based initiative, we are always seeking the upcoming potentials of creativity.

Special thanks to:

Ana María Alonso Ramón Blecua Tere Badía Ahmed El Attar William Wells Sara Rifky Ahmed Hosni Stefania Angerano Kareem El Shafie

For their contributions and support to the project

[OLE] The Crew

Dia Hamed: Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director Mohamed Allam: General Management Diana Calvo: Coordination & Monitoring Ramy Dozy: Designer Pedro Soler: Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mentor

This Initiative came to its inauguration with the great efforts of our dear collaborators:

Yves Degoyon Lluis G贸mez Pedro Soler David Pello Sergi Lario Alex Posada

In the memory of a dear friend and great artist who devoted much to OLE. He started writing his PHD about Open Source Community In Arabic language and was killed by the Police during the Egyptian Revolution 28-1-2011.

Medrar is supported by Foundation for Arts Initiatives Oen Lab Egypt is Totaly Funded by the Spanish Embassy in Egypt www.medrar.org/ole