Paper short abstract:

In the 2023 project 'ON the LINE,' four artworks were created as mediators between STS research on the topic of digital citizenship and the broader public. This presentation investigates how art and poetry can serve as boundary object, bridging gaps and accommodating diverse interpretations of tech.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation delves into the synergy between Science and Technology Studies and creative practices, specifically examining art and poetry as tools for engaging non-academic audiences. In 2023, a team of five researchers, designers, and artists collaborated to investigate the concept of digital citizenship at the Utrecht public library in the ‘ON the LINE’-project. The project did not result in academic papers, but in an exhibition of four new art installations. Focusing on the case of ‘ON the LINE’, I will analyse how art can function as a mediator between STS research and the broader public.

The analysis closely scrutinizes 'Pigment,' one of the artworks created within the project, that challenges the neutral perception of technological development. 'Pigment' is an installation featuring two enormous coloured screens, and four AI-generated poems, each offering a distinct perspective on human-technology relations. These perspectives, often overlooked in mainstream discourse, emanate from the vantage points of a bee, a child, the library as a non-commercial institution, and an AI machine itself. By inviting participants to physically step into these perspectives, the installation is meant to prompt reflection on technological development from diverse viewpoints.

In this presentation, I will discuss the practical work involved in making this creative intervention, and examine how, if at all, the artwork held varied meanings for different viewers. Can art, if resulting from a research process, function as 'boundary object' that not only bridges the gap between STS research and the public, but also accommodates new interpretations relevant to STS researchers themselves?