Ljudmila - Ljubljana Digital Media Lab

Ljudmila is an open-access digital media laboratory with extensive experience since 1994 in connecting new media technologies and artistic projects as well as encouraging broader, savvier, and more creative uses of new technologies.

One of the recent art projects of Ljudmila, developed in cooperation with V2_, Institute for the Unstable Media (Rotterdam) and plenty of other supporters and funders, is the project Frida V. (Free Ride Data Acquisition Vehicle) – the work of new media artist and programmer Luka Frelih. In 2009, Ljudmila also hosted a residency programme for Nedine Kachornnamsong (Thailand/Sweden).

Background and mission

The name Ljudmila is not only the Slavic woman's name, but Ljubljana's Ljudmila is also made of elements from the second half of its name LJUbljana Digital Media LAb.

Ljudmila was founded in 1994 by a group of new media artists and activists living and working in Ljubljana, including the internationally-recognised pioneer net.artist Vuk Ćosić and the new media artist Marko Peljhan.

A successor to the former Open Society Institute – Slovenia programme, and its new media department led by Mitja Doma, Amra Bakšić (1997–1998) and later on by Špela Kučan (1999–2009), Ljudmila has grown into a well-equipped digital media lab that focuses on digital production as well as education, research and development of hardware and software. It also provides knowledge, equipment, Internet access, server space, electronic publishing and other affordable networking services to non-governmental and non-profit organisations, art collectives, active individuals, and others.

In 2004, for its work as the Slovene epicentre of digital creation for group projects and autonomous artists and researchers, Ljudmila was bestowed the Golden Bird Award for the section of new media.

Projects

Frida V. (Free Ride Data Acquisition Vehicle) conceived by Luka Frelih is a free, mapping interface for bicycles that he first built for DEAF 2004 and has since been developing further. The rugged and comfortable bicycle equipped for efficient exploration and mapping of public urban spaces that carries a small computer, a GPS positioning device, an 802.11 wireless network transceiver, and a basic audiovisual recording unit, has been realised and presented in numerous cities all over the world: Ljubljana, Rotterdam, New York, Munich, Bergen, Beijing, etc. In 2009 a new all-in-1 Frida Box prototype series was developed, built, and test-ridden in Paris, France. In the beginning of 2010, Frida V. was exhibited within the exhibition Three Electromagnetic Habitats in the KiBela Art Space, together with the Pufination project of Frelih and Robertina Šebjanič, developed under the support of Ljudmila and later shown also at at the Linuxwochen in Linz. In the June 2010 Tactics and Practice: New Media Drivers pilot seminar for new media arts produced by Aksioma Institute, participants could sign up for hour-long bikerides on Frida V. around town.

Software and online platforms

In 2003 Ljudmila released Slix, the Linux operating system running live from CD media in Slovenian language. It develops also a Web DataBase Interface (WDBI), compatible with their MediaWiki Improvement project.

During 2001-2006 Ljudmila ran Ljudmilin Informator, a community-based information platform and then started to develop Kulturnik.si, a nationwide aggregator of cultural events (in the frame of M3C Multimedia Centres Network of Slovenia). Since 2009 Ljudmila develops and hosts also the portal for international cooperation Culture.si, produced by Ministry of Culture, which offers information on Slovene cultural producers, venues, festivals, and support services, all in one place.

Education

Ljudmila organises regular workshops in basic and advanced use of open source software (Blender, Pure Data, MediaWiki), as well as the Free Circuit workshops and Digital Dish public lectures and artist talks by international new media artists. The Prosto-vezje programme in general engages in the experimental ("circuit bending", "tinkering" and "kits") development and making of the electronic circuit hacks based on the free software. The participants are encouraged to develop further uses and include the findings in their artistic work.

Artist-in-residence programme

In the context of its Prosto-vezje [Free Circuit] programme Ljudmila also occasionally hosts a resident artist working with new media. The residency in 2009 was produced by Ljudmila and the MoTA- Museum of Transitory Art run by CodeEp. Nedine Kachornnamsong (Thailand/Sweden) conducts research-in-practice with a focus on social interaction, spatial conditions, and tangibility. Recently she has been working on questions related to the possible integration of online representation and experience into a physical environment. During the residency she gave a Digital dish lecture entitled Monitor and Display: An Image of the Ghost in the Machine at Ljudmila, while her Yes/No/Maybe interactive installation and experimental social event (transforming online dating elements into a physical setting) took place at Ljubljana's Museum of Modern Art. Another recent resident 1006 Teresa Almeida from Portugal who presented the interactive Space Dress and Yuga accessories in 2006.

Networking

Ljudmila operates through KUD France Prešeren Arts and Culture Association and was a member of the European Cultural Backbone (ECB) initiative and the regional media centres A.Network. In 2004 it became a founding member of the M3C Multimedia Centres Network of Slovenia. As a public lead for the project Creative Commons Slovenia, Ljudmila is also a member of the international networks Creative Commons and Communia.

External links

Gallery

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Ljudmila - Ljubljana Digital Media Lab

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