Experimenta Emergence (ATOM Study Guide)

Experimenta Emergence is Experimenta’s ninth national tour of media arts. It showcases thirteen artworks by leading Australian and international artists and features a diversity of art forms including screen-based works, installations, robotics, participatory and generative art.

Experimenta Emergence intertwines the work of contemporary artists who critically examine and envision possible futures. Weaving seemingly disparate crises into interlocking visions, artists span shifting terrains, from emergent realities; contemplating the quantum or galactic scales to the complexities of societal and environmental upheaval.

Curriculum Links:

Experimenta Emergence is relevant to students in Years 5–10 in the learning areas of:

• English
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Science
• Technologies
• The Arts

For senior students in Years 11–12, it is relevant to the learning areas of:

• Art
• Design and Technology
• English
• Media
• Visual Communication Design

Experimenta Emergence is also suitable for students undertaking certificate and tertiary courses in Creative Industries and Digital Media and Technologies.

Teachers are advised to consult the Australian Curriculum and curriculum outlines relevant to their state or territory for further information.

Key ideas and issues explored include:

• The forces shaping the future and geopolitical relationships.
• Our relationship with technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
• The impact of technology on the environment.
• The impact of climate change on the planet.
• Sustainability and ways to live cleaner.
• Supporting health and wellness.
• Human behaviour in a digital world.
• Art as a tool for expression.

Activities in this study guide provide opportunities for students to:

• Respond to artworks presented in the exhibition.
• Analyse artworks using subject-specific terminology.
• Identify key ideas in each artwork.
• Discuss important issues such as environmental changes, our relationship with technology and the future of humanity on Earth.
• Investigate art-making practices.
• Identify the range of media and materials available to contemporary artists.
• Consider the issues of display, presentation and context involved in presenting media art and how these factors impact audience engagement.
• Use works in the exhibition as a starting point for their own creative investigations and production of artworks.

More information on the exhibition can be found here.