A!KO and FURNA: Celebrating Movement and Exchange

Last year's collaboration between A!KO, FURNA, and the Cultural Institute of Plovdiv highlighted the universal language of dance during a one-week workshop in Plovdiv, Bulgaria held in August.

By merging traditional Bulgarian dances with the innovative Bogyeol Community Dance, the project conducted a public improvised dance performance in the Vienna Pavilion, located in the center of Plovdiv. People strolling around the area were invited to join the performance and experience and explore their own creativity and body expressions.

Next Up

FURNA’s team is currently working on various different projects like Collective Future, a multi-layered art project dedicated to future prediction methods by Violeta Ivanova and Fatma Nur Özoğul (check it out on Instagram) or a technical exploration regarding digitalized dance in augmented reality using wireless motion tracking systems.

Steps Untold 1.0: Documenting Interwoven Realities

Blending Personal and Digital Narratives

"Steps Untold 1.0," a documentary by Violeta Ivanova, Mihaela Kavdanska, and Dilmana Yordanova, delves into the intersection of AR technology and the participants' diverse realities within the DARV Steps Untold 1.0 project. Capturing the creative process and personal experiences, the film offers an in-depth look at how digital and personal narratives intertwine, providing unique insights into the participants' lives and work. This documentary highlights the project's role in showcasing the multifaceted nature of art and technology, enriching the dialogue on the impact of digital innovation in storytelling.

Steps Untold 2.0: Stories of Reverse Migration

Exploring Migration through Art

The DARV Collective's engagement at DA Fest 9 in Sofia, Bulgaria, further emphasized the impact of digital art in public spaces. Through a series of presentations and interactive city tours, the collective explored the nuanced theme of reverse migration, using AR to tell the stories of Bulgarian cultural professionals who returned to their homeland. This initiative showcased the power of digital interventions to illuminate complex social issues and foster community engagement.

Read more about Steps Untold 2.0 here.

Advancements in AR: The DARV Platform 2023

Elevating the User Experience in Art

The continuous development of the DARV AR Platform marked a significant milestone in making digital art more accessible and engaging. With enhanced UI/UX features, the platform now supports multilingual content and offers intuitive navigation through digital art collections across Europe. These improvements not only cater to digital artists' needs but also enrich the audience's experience, enabling a deeper connection with the artwork through augmented reality.

Next Up

Alongside the journey of "Steps Untold," we ventured into an exciting collaboration with A!KO and the Cultural Institute of Plovdiv, where the spotlight was on dance as a powerful medium for cultural connection. Stay tuned for an upcoming piece that dives deeper into this project, celebrating the vibrant exchange of movement and tradition.

DARV Art & Technology Workshop: Bridging Realities

Engaging Public Spaces with AR

One of the highlights was the DARV Art & Technology Workshop, which brought together artists, teachers, and students in a collaborative effort to create and implement AR art projects. Over three months, participants received mentorship, culminating in a vibrant exhibition in Arad, Romania. This workshop illustrated the transformative potential of integrating AR into public art, fostering a unique interaction between the audience and the immersive digital creations.

Collaboration Spotlight: KIMÆRA MNMNTS

Merging Digital with Physical

The KIMÆRA project, initiated by Kinema Ikon, developed an interactive digital meta-installation with multiple authors in the context of the Timisoara 2023 - European Capital of Culture program. Kinema Ikon and DARV collaborated on an Augmented Reality (AR) experience showcasing a digital monument representing the interactive installation in various places in Arad, Timisoara and Bucharest. This collaboration was also presented in the context of Ars Electronica Gardens 2023 in Linz.

Coming up

FURNA's 2023 Annual Program has provided valuable insights into integrating art with technology, focusing on societal themes. Next week, we invite you to join us for an update on our evolving project series, DARV Steps Untold, where we’ll share the latest developments.