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Zero Future: A look into Montréal’s HTMlles Festival

October 29th, 2014     by Romina Cameron     Comments

Image courtesy of The HTMlles

“The future invented by modern capitalism is in crisis. #zerofuture is the point zero of collective liberation from “the future” in order to (re)build community. The absence of a future is a good reason to invent one…”

“Today’s Futures,” or rather their obsolescence, is the concept behind Montréal’s The HTMlles Festival. From November 7-15, The HTMlles Festival will explore inventive genres such as afrofuturism, cyberfeminism, and queer futurity, among others. Produced by Studio XX, a Montréal-based studio that enables the creativity of women working in technology and media art, the festival includes the work of more than 50 local and international artists, curators, and thinkers, in exhibitions, performances, discussions, and workshops held both online and in galleries and spaces throughout Montréal. The HTMlles aims to bring together artists, scholars, and activists who are passionate about critical engagement with new technologies from a feminist perspective.

Photo: Giaso & Xoel Freire, APO33

Art works included in the festival are geared towards those interested in feminist theory, environmental matters and racial empowerment. Examples include a clitoris dedicated to gender-modified, transsexual and gender-modifying persons, photography that focuses on the perception of the environment through one’s body, and a multimedia piece that reflects on the construction of identity. Along with the various visual works, several performances will be taking place throughout the week that incorporate art and sound into one, creating an experience that can only be described as multisensory.

Photo: Julie Matson

Those interested in attending the festival are also encouraged to participate in a wide variety of activities including a digital performance workshop, a class on how to hack various technologies, and discussions regarding the queering of cyber art and the liberation of Afrofuturists.

The festival has made it easy for those who do not live Montréal to partake as well. There will be podcasts posted of various artist talks, group discussions and conferences, along with SoundCloud clips for those who wish to listen in on the happenings from home. Be sure to check out the festival’s Tumblr page to learn more about specific projects, artists and theories. The Tumblr is also the place to read about artists’ submissions to the Zero Future time capsule project, a concept used to display objects that reflect both the past year’s events and the theme of the festival—the future is obsolete. Subscribe to The HTMlles’ Twitter for updates and future festival activities.

The HTMlles is committed to being inclusive and accessible to all. The festival strives to raise awareness within communities in order to inspire social change regarding feminist practices. So if you are interested in media arts, digital culture, or queer and feminist culture, be sure to check out the reinvented futures of The HTMlles Festival.

This is the first in a series of posts produced in conjunction with The HTMlles Festival

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