My cookie preferencesThe complexity and interconnectedness of the inequalities characterising our contemporary society require innovative and creative solutions. While traditionally considered separate disciplines, art and science share a common goal: to understand and describe the world around us. Both have the ability to engage the public, stimulate reflection, evoke emotions, and, above all, inspire change. The exCHANGE project was born precisely out of a desire to explore this potential, seeking to combine different perspectives to address complex social issues such as inequalities.
exCHANGE, a project of the Center for Advanced Studies of Eurac Research in collaboration with the Südtiroler Künstlerbund, brings together individuals from the worlds of research and art in six transdisciplinary pairs, or tandems, each dedicated to the exploration of a topic related to inequalities. These creative collaborations not only reveal new ways to understand complex problems but also foster innovative solutions that neither art nor science could achieve alone. Each tandem was tasked with combining the imaginative power of art with the analytical capacity of science to make the results of their collaboration more accessible and comprehensible to the public.
The six tandems of exCHANGE address a variety of different topics, all closely related to inequalities. Some tandems chose to interview bus drivers to understand their daily challenges, while others explored inequalities related to motherhood, analysed climate change, or examined access to water resources. Still, others reinterpreted ancient archaeological finds or studied playgrounds as liminal spaces, observing how different groups of people use them when children are not present. In each of these cases, art and science intertwine to provide a broader and deeper perspective on social dynamics.
While the tandems focussed on their respective projects, another group, comprised of researchers from the Center for Advanced Studies, took a closer look at the collaborative process within the tandems. Their aim was to understand the dynamics of these tandems: how decisions are made, how different skills are integrated, and how collaboration influences thinking and working. In particular, the Center is interested in understanding whether and how these interactions change participants’ understanding of inequalities and how they can contribute to bridging the gap between the different disciplines.
The exCHANGE project therefore operates on two levels. On the one hand, the meta-research level aims to identify possible pitfalls and challenges that may arise during the collaboration between art and science. This part of the project is crucial because it enhances the effectiveness of future interdisciplinary collaborations by providing valuable insights into how best to manage integration processes across different competences. On the other hand, there are the tangible results of the tandems’ work: the artworks and prototypes created, which are showcased in the exhibition. These pieces offer a unique opportunity to envision new approaches to research and art, contributing to a broader social debate and a concrete commitment to the creation of a more equitable society.
The final exhibition offers the public a chance to see these works up close and reflect on the potential of collaborations between art and science. It aims to be an opportunity to better understand how our society continues to reproduce and perpetuate inequalities, while also encouraging the imagination of new pathways toward a more just and inclusive society.
To raise awareness about the issue of inequalities and to engage in dialogue with the public, the different outputs will be presented in an exhibition at the Südtiroler Künstlerbund and the terraXcube in Bolzano, with the inauguration taking place on October 10th 2024.
