Big Bang Data, at the CCCB
The exhibition makes inroads into the phenomenon of the data explosion in which we are immersed, in a new space for projects that bring an integrative approach to 21st-century culture and the major transformations of the digital age
Is data the new oil? A potentially infinite source of wealth? Or should it be, first and foremost, a tool for the construction of a more transparent, participatory democracy?
This is the starting point the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB) uses to present its new project: BIG BANG DATA, curated by Olga Subirós and José Luis de Vicente.To coincide with its 20th anniversary, the CCCB is opening a new space for exhibition projects that bring an integrative approach to 21st-century culture and the major transformations of the digital age. BIGBANGDATA is the first in this series of proposals.
Every day, 2.5 trillion bytes of data are generated; during a single year, 2009, we produced the same quantity of data as in the entire history of humanity up to that point. The data explosion is growing exponentially as it expands towards infinity. We all generate data, from mobile devices to sensors, social networks, digital photographs and videos, purchase transactions and GPS signals. What has changed is the increasing ease of storage and processing of these vast quantities of data, detecting patterns (of frequency, behaviour, consumption, vote, investment, etc.), which is quickly changing the decision-making process at all levels for ever.
To navigate these waters, the exhibition combines artistic installations and projects, historical documentation, interviews, audiovisual documents, technological prototypes and a space for participatory projects. Taking part in the project are creators such as Christopher Baker, Chris Jordan, Ingo Gunther, Erik Kessels, David Bowen, Aaron Koblin, Eric Fischer, Near Future Laboratory, Bestiario, along with investigators, activists, designers, educators, analysts, cartographers, engineers, economists, architects, communicators, programmers, journalists and many others.
The proposal includes an exhibition space which will be open from 9 May to 26 October 2014, and the Estació Beta, which will host workshops, hackhatons, discussions, educational programs and meetings of local and international communities.
Further information: CCCB/BIG BANG DATA