As part of the Correlations Forum, we were pleased to present a talk by Varvara Guljajeva (she/her). She is an artist and researcher, currently a substitute professor at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. As part of the artist duo Varvara & Mar, she has been exploring the creative potential of AI through practice-based research, focusing on the intersection of art, technology, and society. Their collaborative work, showcased at renowned venues like Ars Electronica, ZKM, and the Barbican, pushes the boundaries of art and technology. Varvara has presented her research at major conferences such as SIGGRAPH, CVPR, and ISEA. She has held positions at HKUST (GZ), the Estonian Academy of Arts, and Elisava Design School in Barcelona. 

In her opening lecture Artistic Strategies to Guide Neural Networks, Guljajeva discussed how neural networks were being shaped by artists as tools for expression and experimentation. Drawing on her own collaborative work—exhibited internationally at institutions such as Ars Electronica, ZKM, and the Barbican—she explored the creative use of deep learning to generate images, text, and 3D forms. Her talk reflected on how AI could serve artistic innovation while still requiring critical expertise in dataset design and algorithmic adaptation. 

The talk was held in English on December 11, 2024, at 4:30 PM in the University of Arts and Design Offenbach. 

Correlations 2024: Prof. Dr. Varvara Guljajeva (Varvara & Mar)

As part of the Correlations Forum, we welcomed Tereza Ruller (The Rodina) for a talk on The Synthesized Self – Crafting Personal Narratives through AI and Sound. Tereza Ruller (she/her) is a mother, communication designer, and educator. Through her practice – The Rodina – she explores a performative and critical approach to communication design. Her transdisciplinary work emphasizes the power of situation, playfulness, active spectatorship, and the relationships between human and nonhuman actors. 

Ruller’s work thrives in the cultural context, weaving together participatory events, spatial installations, virtual environments, and visual identities. Addressing critical ecological and social issues of our time, she seeks to foster collective shifts in perspective, embracing the interdependence that defines our shared world. Tereza Ruller is a professor of Communication Design and Digital Practices at HfG Karlsruhe. She also lectures and leads workshops internationally at institutions like ZHdK, CalArts, RCA, and Design Academy Eindhoven, and collaborates with cultural institutions such as CARA New York, Harvard GSD, and ZKM Karlsruhe. In her presentation, Ruller explored how artificial intelligence and generative sound technologies can be used to tell deeply personal stories. Drawing from Donna Haraway’s A Cyborg Manifesto, she examined how dissolving the boundaries between human and machine opens up new possibilities for self-expression, identity, and authorship. The talk offered insights into Ruller’s transdisciplinary design practice, which blends communication design, critical theory, and performative strategies to challenge normative narratives and foster playful, collective engagement. 

The talk took place on Friday, 13 December 2024, at 10:00 AM in the Aula at the University of Arts and Design Offenbach. 

Correlations 2024: Tereza Ruller (The Rodina)

So Kanno, a Japanese media artist based in Berlin, recently conducted a workshop and talk as part of Correlations. He showcased his art installation, Lasermice, a swarm robot system, allowing participants to interact and learn about robot behavior by adjusting parameters. The workshop involved using a simulator prototype before experimenting with actual robots to find optimal movement patterns.

Kanno's works, inspired by insect behavior, explore the unpredictability and organic nature of robotics, contrasting industrial precision. He embraces errors and noise in his creations, which include installations like Lasermice and Senseless Drawing Bot, demonstrating his interest in emergent properties.

Correlations Forum, an interdisciplinary event, fosters dialogue on AI in creative contexts. Through lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, it encourages exploration of intelligent systems' impact on art and design. The next forum is scheduled for November 2024, organized by KITeGG, a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Visit correlationsforum.de for more information.

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Correlations: So Kanno

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Correlations 2024: Prof. Dr. Varvara Guljajeva (Varvara & Mar)

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Correlations 2024: Tereza Ruller (The Rodina)