Student-led festival highlights innovation in creativity

University of Adelaide students will showcase the best of student and international technology-assisted artistry at the Art of the Possible Festival from Monday 24 October to Thursday 27 October.

The University’s North Terrace campus will host a variety of events – including a ground-breaking exhibition and discussion with Grammy Award-winning artist Laurie Anderson, architectural exhibits and jazz, classical and pop music performances - that highlight student creativity across all faculties.

“Since the festival’s inception last year, our aim has been to demonstrate how new and exciting technologies can be used to push the boundaries of what is possible,” said Professor Tom Hajdu, the Chair of Creative Technologies at the University of Adelaide and the Director of the Sia Furler Institute for Contemporary Music and Media.

“There is a global technological movement happening, and we want South Australia to be at the forefront of that.

“For that to happen, we need to equip our state’s workforce with a diverse array of creative skills.

“The Art of the Possible Festival will highlight the amazing work that our University of Adelaide students are engaged in while also featuring some of the world leaders in the innovation creativity space to share their vision for what the future holds.”

“There is a global technological movement happening, and we want South Australia to be at the forefront of that. For that to happen, we need to equip our state’s workforce with a diverse array of creative skills."Professor Tom Hajdu, the Chair of Creative Technologies at the University of Adelaide and the Director of the Sia Furler Institute for Contemporary Music and Media.

Anderson will display her acclaimed artificial intelligence art installation, titled Scroll, in collaboration with the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML).

Scroll was created through deep learning artificial intelligence and combines art, science and technology. The installation was recently exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., debuting for the first time outside of the renowned museum at the University of Adelaide.

"The Art of the Possible always involves looking at the impossible and that's what we've been doing with our AI project — finding the lines between the possible and the impossible and blurring them," said Ms Anderson.

Ms Anderson will also share her knowledge in a Q&A session with Professor Hajdu and AIML director Anton van den Hengel where they will discuss the future of creativity in the artistic space.

Some of the other highlights of the festival include:

• An exhibition in the Barr Smith Library Reading Room which blurs the lines between physical and digital art. Patrons can scan QR codes located throughout the reading room to reveal creative writing and sonic arts pieces.
• Virtual reality-created structures made by students that are 3D printed by Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing using metal alloy and polymer.
• An exhibition of architectural design presented by University of Adelaide students, showcasing innovation in architectural design and creative processes.
• Students hosting the third annual Adelaide eSports Summit which will feature independent gaming streamer Alisheria and other panelists who will discuss the world of eSports and the pathways to a successful career while maintaining a healthy mind and body.
• Classical, jazz, and pop concerts from Elder Conservatorium of Music students.
• A celebration of Aboriginal culture featuring Kaurna welcome by Jack Buckskin, performances by Katie Aspel and Tilly Tjala Thomas, and Aboriginal-owned food businesses.

The Art of the Possible Festival is grateful for the support of the City of Adelaide.

For more information and a full list of events, visit http://artofthepossible.com.au