Polar Identity

Polar Identity, sponsored by ZER01, CADRE New Media Lab and SWITCH, was a rousing success.  On opening night more than 900 people crowded into works/san jose to check out the exhibition, which ran from August 7,2009 to September 11, 2009. and hang with the polar bear.

What was it about?

Global climate change has far reaching ramifications and as a result the world as we know it will not be the world of 100 or even 10 years from now. Armed with a “new” awareness of how our actions impact the environment, how will this affect our ideas about who we are? This was the question posed by CADRE New Media Lab at San Jose State University in an open call to artists earlier this summer.

From entries the world over, six finalists were chosen including leading artist Andrea Polli, 2008 01SJ Biennial Green Prix nominee, whose work “Sonic Antarctica” will be shown. Also featured in the exhibition were “Markers” and “8220150,000-year journey” by Xavier Cortada. Other artists showcased in Polar Identity included Jerome Gueneau and Catherine Rannou, Phil Boissonnet, Andrea Juan, and Erika Blumenfeld. Jurors for the exhibition included surveillance artist Hasan Elaji, new media artist Robin Lasser, and art critic, theoretician, teacher, curator Annick Bureaud.