This art biennial, a pioneer in Spain (first held in 1988), brings to Las Palmas all the latest developments in media art under the theme of the gaze through the window, in a vision that conceives digital screens as new windows onto the real and virtual worlds. This year, moreover, the competition section has awakened more expectation than ever, its record number of entrants featuring a selection of the best animation, video art, documentary and media art works produced in 2007-2008 from no fewer than 38 countries: the section showcases 105 productions that give the public an overview of recent trends in national and international digital art.
The programme, both ambitious and designed to attract a range of audiences, features such outstanding international artists as: Oscar- and Emmy-winning Zbigniew Rybczynski, who ranks amongst the most admired experimental film directors in the world; Martha Rosler, one of the most controversial artists and cultural critics in the contemporary art world; Brazilian film director and artist Cao Guimarães, a winner at Cannes in 2005, who will give a workshop as well as forming part of the exhibition programme; and Rioji Ikeda, Japan's foremost electronic music composer and winner of the Prix Ars Electronica. These are just four of the many important figures taking part at canariasmediafest 2008.
Over nine days, then, Gran Canaria Espacio Digital, nerve centre of the festival, in cooperation with the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, the Sala Cuasquías, the Sala Insular de Teatro and the Saro León, Luroa and Mapfre Guanarteme galleries in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, will offer visitors a carefully-selected programme of works, not only by firmly established artists, but also by emerging talents. The festival will culminate at 9.30 pm on Saturday, November 1 with the award of prizes worth a total of 26,000 euros.
For more information on the festival's theme, artists and events, visit the Canariasmediafest website!