CYENS Art Residency 2024

_work-in-progress

_intro

_residency
Between September and December 2024, I am taking part in CYENS Residency Programme as an artist-in-residence. For the first time this year, the programme is created in partnership with different research labs, this several artists are coming to Lefkosia to do artistic projects researching various themes and practices. I was lucky enough to be selected to take part in the residency programme for 3 months and in collaboration with ▶▶ CYENS, ▶▶ Thinker Maker Space, and ▶▶ EdMedia.

_project

The essence of our future lies in our ability to envision what could be before it becomes reality. My project seeks to delve into the core principles of future speculations by acknowledging the vital entanglement between imagination and knowledge in shaping our tomorrow. This is a theme that I have been addressing several times in my work during the last two years, but with this residency, I would like to dedicate time and work on it to shape it as a space for conversation - a game - and speculate on the idea of a “future design” discipline.

_residency planning & log

_research (reading and writing)
_conceptualising and ideation
_prototyping
_tests and feedback
_adjustments and more prototyping
_designing
_writing editorial
_communication materials
_presentation (artist talk/workshop/exhibition)
_documentation

Weekssss	Overarching task	Description of Activities	TMS Equipment Used	What's the plan	Diary: what happened
WEEK 1 // 24-27 Sep	1: conceptualising & first try-outs	Getting to know the people and the spaces + Begin research process	n/a	Getting settled at the space; and meeting in person the people who I will be working with. Settling up working space/locker and all practicalities. Starting to draft my plan (adjusting it also) for the residency, and prepare self-facilitation activities. Start of the research process. Setup the research and documentation spaces: notebooks, alwiki page.	24, tue // first day at TMS, was welcomed by Stella and Sonia; got practical info about the residency, the space and equipment; agreed to do a workshop at the WIP festival; updating the work schedule for the residency and made this wiki page. 25, wed // finding a space to work; getting started - sorting out references, drafting plan and course of action; answering the "how to start?" question. Preparing self-facilitated daily routine for week 2. I've checked with Alex (technician) about 3D printing and he advised me to book an appointment when I have a particular element for printing (not just to explore how it works). 26, thu // Setting up the reader for the research ▶Future Design Reader; creating a self-facilitation structure and template for next week
WEEK 2 // 30 Sep - 4 Oct	1: conceptualising & first try-outs	Research and conceptualisation + ▲ Team meeting	n/a	Research and ideation kick-off. During this week will work with the references and inspirations and start drafting intentions for the game and the whole project.	30 sep, mon // "future design" stream of consciousness writing; reading and work with references; visual facilitation of elements. 01 oct, wed // self-interview about the game (writing activity); meeting with EdMedia team; drafting elements of the game.
WEEK 3 // 7-11 Oct	1: conceptualising & first try-outs	Concept ideation // Workshop preparation	if possible: 3D printing	Concept ideation week - drafting ideas of how the game could look like, different elements ideation, rapid & raw prototyping. Also, researching - exploring references, writing, reading. Preparation of the WIP Festival workshop.	tba
WEEK 4 // 14-18 Oct	2: prototyping & testing	WIP Festival // Concept testing + ▲ Team meeting	if possible: 3D printing	Creating a rough prototype of some of the game elements (board, cards, pawns, cubes, prompts etc. - depending on what elements I decide to work with). Preparation/facilitation of the WIP Festival workshop.	tba
WEEK 5 // 21-25 Oct	2: prototyping & testing	WIP Festival // Prototyping	tba	Working on the prototyping and concept/storytelling of the game. If possible/ready yet, could do a test with a small group of people. (Facilitation of the WIP Festival workshop - no sure when exactly yet)	tba
WEEK 6 // 28 Oct - 1 Nov	2: prototyping & testing	Concept and execution work + ▲ Team meeting	tba	If it didn't happen during the week before, a test with a small group of people. Work on the project - conceptual adjustments after the workshop, any feedback, designing, drawing, printing, and testing. Researching (writing, reading).	tba
WEEK 7 // 4-8 Nov	2: prototyping & testing	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 8 // 11-15 Nov	2: prototyping & testing	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 9 // 18-22 Nov	3: assembling, publishing & presenting	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 10 // 25-29 Nov	3: assembling, publishing & presenting	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 11 // 2-6 Dec	3: assembling, publishing & presenting	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 12 // 9-13 Dec	3: assembling, publishing & presenting	tba	tba	tba	tba
WEEK 13 // 16-20 Dec	4: wrapping up, reflection, documentation	tba	tba	tba	tba

_self-facilitation tools

During the residency, in order to help myself start and unblock when feeling stuck, I designed and/or applied some mini-exercises and routines.

_how to start
// To begin working is one of the hardest steps and I often feel like I start quite randomly, which makes me feel a bit unsatisfied of the process. With this residency, I wanted to "do it properly" or at least try out some ways to create some structure and tools from the beginning. Here are some of them:

_Daily routine for beginning  
11:00 // writing [stream of consciousness or describing/answering questions I asked myself about the project]
12:00 // reading [work with references]
13:30 // lunch
14:00 // conceptualising, ideation, and prototyping [trying out, testing ideas, small-scale experiments]
16:00 // walk

_Asking questions
One of my favourite and most efficient tools for unblocking myself - self-interview. Writing down questions for myself which I will answer later - all of them related to the particular stage of the working process. Here are some examples:
_What would I like to try out during the residency?
_What elements to include in the project and the project outcomes? Thinking of forms and formats. But also concepts, ideas, other things I find interesting/important.
_What are my main blockers - what keeps me from experimenting more and what worries me?

_Contextualising
The research’s start also includes a discovery and revisiting of references that will inform the project. In the beginning, I combine writing with reading and annotating. On a daily basis there should be time dedicated to reading/exploring references and annotations. 
_Create a references list.
_Dedicate time for reading and annotating, write down notes, reflections and quotes.
_Create a glossary.
_What other references should be checked? Make a facilitated plan for doing it accordingly. (e.g. games - notes on how the game works, what’s its goal, what elements etc.)

_project

_tba

_reader

The references and inspirations that inform this research are connected to the worldwide topics of history, society, culture, technology, the contemporary world, current global and local challenges, and the future. With this exploration, I am interested in the friction between different reads, movies, games, and any artworks that give a take on how we imagine our future(s) and how much we realise our role in its(their) shaping. You can have a look at the reader and my annotations here:

▶ Future Design Reader

_outcomes

_tba

_references

_residency
★ CYENS - centre of excellence
★ Thinker Maker Space - a multifunctional creative space
★ EdMedia - applied research and innovation in the field of Interactive Media for Education and Edutainment
★ Cyprus University of Technology

_local cultural events, spaces, and organisations discovered
★ Azines Library // zines and indie publications library
★ Visual Voices // art organisation supporting young artists from communities affected by a violent conflict