DEAF Biennale 2014DEAF Biennale 2014

In 2014, Het Nieuwe Instituut is exploring and illuminating the relationship between conflict and innovation in a series of projects. DEAF2014 is the second project in this series of four, jointly presented under the title '2014-1914 Conflict and Innovation'. The other projects cover the topics of neutrality, peacekeeping and scarcity in relation to innovation and the design practice.During the Industrial Revolution, the machine became the face of progress and a brighter future. Over a century later, this symbolic value has practically disappeared, but we continue to firmly believe in progress and innovation. How can we go beyond the cult of progress to develop a better understanding of the radical technological innovations of today?

The exhibition The Progress Trap formed the centre of the Dutch Electronic Art Festival (DEAF) and brought together the work of international artists, including Cohen van Balen, Louis Philippe Demers, Jenny Holzer, Nam June Paik, Boris Petrovski and Melle Smets.

Alongside the exhibition, the DEAF programme featured keynote talks, seminars, workshops, films, performances and a satellite programme. The festival ran from 21 May through 24 May 2014, with the exhibition at Het Nieuwe Instituut remaining open through 9 June.

Biennale 2014 is a joint initiative of DEAF and its main partners Het Nieuwe Instituut en V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media. Other cooperating partners and venues in Rotterdam include Arminius, WORM, Roodkapje and MaMa. DEAF2014 is made possible by Mondriaan fund, Creative Industries Fund NL, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, SNS REAAL Fonds, DOEN Foundation, the city of Rotterdam and Rotterdam Festivals.

For the overall programme of DEAF2014, including events at other locations in Rotterdam, please visit www.deaf.nl.