Cyber Struc­tures

Inter­ac­tions with the digital sphere have become part of our daily lives, and they are almost exclusively wireless. The Internet and the Cloud are accessible at the click of a button and at any time, like invisible, vaporous objects. But these services are based on a colossal infra­struc­ture that sprawls across the planet.

Data centres, underground cables, inter­con­ti­nen­tal submarine cables, antennas and satellites make up this decen­tralised and inter­con­nect­ed infra­struc­ture, which functions like a network of networks. Para­dox­i­cal­ly, its omnipres­ence in our lives often makes us forget the ecological, political, cultural, and social issues linked to its deployment and use.

In 2024 Elektron explores this paradox through seven artworks presented as part of an urban itinerary. Linking key locations in the town centre of Esch-sur-Alzette, Cyber Structures: Material Realities – Digital Experiences provides an opportunity to discover and better understand the ecological, political, and social impli­ca­tions of this infra­struc­ture through art.

Presented in both indoor and outdoor spaces, the instal­la­tions address key issues such as: How does the artistic use of technology allow us to see the impact of human activities on the planet in a new and disruptive way? What forms do sur­veil­lance and digital colonialism take around the world? How do the Internet and social networks contribute to the creation of communities and a collective visual memory? 

These questions are addressed in the instal­la­tions across town. They are explored in greater depth and linked to the specific context of Esch-sur-Alzette and the Greater Region through meetings and workshops with Lux­em­bour­gish and inter­na­tion­al experts. This rich public programme reflects Elektron’s ambition to become the reference platform for art, digital technology, science and social issues in the Greater Region.

Artists
Corinne Vionnet, Jeroen van Loon, Lucas LaRochelle, ScanLAB Projects, Serge Ecker, Xenorama, Ziyang Wu + Mark Ramos, six étudiant·es du programme Interface Cultures à la Kun­stu­ni­ver­sität Linz

Curators
Vincent Crapon and Françoise Poos

In col­lab­o­ra­tion with Esch Capitale Culturelle, Konschthal Esch, Bridderhaus, Cultures of Assembly, Université du Luxembourg, Spektrum, the CLAIRE programme at Ville d’Esch-sur-Alzette, Bijouterie Hirsch as well as the co-owner’s association of Centre Mercure.