The World is a Library | An Online Workshop with Mika Johnson
“Everything was possessed of personality, only differing from us in form. Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks, and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of earth.” – Chief Luther Standing Bear (Ota Kte) – Oglala Lakota chief (December 1868-February 20, 1939)
The World is a Library workshop asks participants to reimagine local biodiversity sites, in Alexandria, through Chief Luther Standing Bear’s quote “The world was a library…”
What kind of libraries exist in Alexandria, be they marine, coastal, mammals, birds etc.? What are the main threats to these living libraries? What kind of knowledge systems existed related to these libraries, historically? What kind exist now? How can our awareness about our natural libraries be heightened by artistic practices? What are the advantages of digital projects that focus on biodiversity? What are the dangers or other related issues?
In this workshop, participants will work in groups to create an artistic concept around their own living library, focusing on one species or site native to Alexandria.
The workshop is for storytellers, game designers, artists or students aged 18 and above who are interested in cultural heritage, biodiversity, ecology, science communication or VR. The number of participants is limited to 12 people. The workshop will be held in English.
When?
December 15, 2023, 10 AM – 2 PM CLT (Cairo Local Time)
Where?
ZOOM
Deadline:
December 10, 2023
Mika Johnson is a multimedia artist interested in dream-like narratives, mythos, ritual, and biodiversity. While his concentration is designing VR installations, Johnson also works in many mediums, including as a director for fiction and documentary projects.
Johnson’s recent work is The Infinite Library: a traveling multimedia installation, produced by the Goethe-Institut New Delhi, which reimagines the library through VR experiences, 3D prints, a QR code game, and more.
https://mikajohnson.com/
