Arte y Vida Artificial. VIDA 1999-2012: Celebrating 15 Years of Artificial Life Art and Technology

This exhibition showcases the award-winning works from the VIDA Artificial Life Art competition, spanning fifteen years of artistic creation at the intersection of new technologies, art, and science. It highlights the evolution of artificial life concepts through digital, robotic, and biotechnological artistic expressions.

The exhibition "Arte y Vida Artificial. VIDA 1999-2012" delves into the fifteen-year history of the VIDA Artificial Life Art competition, an initiative by Fundación Telefónica established in 1999 to foster artistic creation with new technologies. The exhibition presents a curated selection of award-winning pieces that demonstrate the evolution of artificial life as a concept in art, science, and technology. It features 23 works that simulate living systems and manipulate living matter, prompting reflection on the definition of life itself. Visitors can explore the coexistence of natural and artificial, physical and virtual, and organic and technological elements, bringing artificial life closer to everyday experience. Curated by Karin Ohlenschläger, the exhibition is organized into five sections: 'The Code of Life,' 'Robotics: Order and Rebellion,' 'Symbiotic Systems,' 'Life is Communication,' and 'Sensitive Membranes.' These sections guide visitors from the nanoscopic scale of DNA to the planetary dimension of life, showcasing how artists engage with ethical and symbolic values derived from scientific advancements. The exhibition also highlights the interdisciplinary dialogue between art, science, and contemporary thought through accompanying activities like artist encounters, film cycles, and international seminars.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 20:00, and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11:00 to 20:00. Further information about the exhibition can be found in the PDF brochure and a dedicated notebook for educators.