"Knotting Networks: Soft Infrastructures for Decentralized Futures" – 50% seminar

The seminar is part of the seminar series “Ways of knowing Spring 2025” where we every Wednesday this Spring explore how Ways of Knowing manifest themselves in the field of artistic research right now. Read more about the seminar series and find upcoming seminars.

Paola Torres Nuñez Del Prado explore the concept of Smart Fiber Arts, its relation to sound, and the role of Human Computer Interaction in performance set-ups. Paola's point of departure has been the study of the pre-Columbian devices called “khipus”, a tactile, cord-based data storing system so to engage with a different lineage in the development of human technologies, one that sprouts from an essentially fiber-based origin.

In the 50% seminar "Knotting Networks: Soft Infrastructures for Decentralized Futures", Paola speculates on how Andean khipus could have functioned as tactile, decentralized information systems. This, in turn, will take me to revisit Peer2Peer technologies, Edge AI, soft infrastructures and possibilities of divergent governance systems through decentralized system design. The seminar begins with a sound performance in which the audience is given the opportunity to participate. In order to do so, guests are invited to download an app for Android in the following link: https://www.futurelessfestival.com/Knotworks.html.

The performance involves remote interaction with the audience in the Colloquium "De-hegemonizing Technologies of Capture" occurring simultaneously at the Critical Media Lab in Basel, Switzerland. https://criticalmedialab.ch/de-hegemonizing-technologies-of-capture/ where the examination is streamed as part of the event. This is followed by an introduction to the details of the research. The second part of the seminar consists of a response from opponent Palle Torsson, followed by a dialogue with Paola Torres Nuñez del Prado and concluding with questions from the audience. This part will not be streamed.
 

Participants
PhD student: Paola Torres Nuñez Del Prado
Opponent: Palle Torsson
Supervisor: Jenny Sunesson

Schedule
13:00-13:05 – Welcome by Jenny Sunesson 
13:05-13:20 – Introduction / Demo
13:20-14:00 – Presentation (including questions) by Paola Torres Nuñez Del Prado
14:00–14:15 – Break
14:15–15:30 – Response from Opponent Palle Torsson 
Followed by discussion with Paola Torres Nuñez Del Prado
15:30–16:00 – Open Discussion