As CPH:DOX continues to chart new territories at the intersection of art, technology, and documentary storytelling, we are thrilled to reveal the lineup for this year’s INTER:ACTIVE Exhibition, ‘Who Do You Think You Are: The Body Reexamined’. Curated by Mark Atkin, Head of Studies at CPH:DOX, the exhibition unfolds from March 13 – 24, 2024, at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, offering a profound exploration into the evolving relationship between our bodies and immersive technologies. 17 pieces from VR and mixed reality to AI chatbots have been selected and will run for a brand new award for best immersive work.

This year’s theme, ‘‘Who Do You Think You Are: The Body Reexamined’, navigates through the intricacies of how we perceive, experience, and interact with our bodies in an era dominated by digital innovation. The exhibition is a vibrant testament to CPH:DOX’s commitment to showcasing works that provoke meaningful interaction.

Mark Atkin, curator of the INTER:ACTIVE Exhibition and Head of Studies at CPH:DOX comments: “This showcase of different ways we experience the world through our bodies comes at a time when it is more pressing than ever to understand the lived experience of others. Much of this work comes from members of marginalized communities – those most impacted by technological change – using embodied media to present a deeply visceral experience of how we relate to ourselves, our natural and digital environments, and society at large.”

In this year’s interactive exhibition, CPH:DOX navigates a rich blend of art and technology, creating immersive bodily narratives across mediums. From the intimacy of web-based chatbots to the expansive realms of virtual reality (VR), each work draws the audience into a dialogue with the digital. Augmented reality (AR) installations and interactive games blur lines between physical and digital, challenging our perceptions and explorations of identity. Experimental video art and sound installations further enrich the experience, offering complex visual and auditory landscapes.

On March 17 from 17:30 – 19:00 the INTER:ACTIVE Exhibition Vernissage will take place at the Upper Foyer of CPH:DOX’s festival center Kunsthal Charlottenborg where most of the artists of the exhibition will be present.

16 out of the 17 pieces are eligible for the brand new award which will be handed out to the best immersive work based on a criteria taking into consideration artistic quality, originality, imagination, intellectual quality and ‘stickiness’.

The award will be handed out at CPH:DOX’s Award Ceremony on March 22, 2024 at Social Cinema.

Hybrid Bodies: Navigating the Digital Integration
Navigating the complex interplay between our physical selves and the digital realm as part of the ‘Hybrid Bodies’ thematic section, Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm’s I SEE IT, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO unveils the hidden struggles of micro-workers in the AI industry through a wall hanging that combines machine learning with Jacquard weaving, echoing labor dynamics from the first industrial revolution. Nouf Aljowaysir’s WHERE AM I FROM? is a short film that embarks on a genealogical journey, contrasting personal narratives with an AI ‘narrator’ to reveal biases and stereotypes inherent in AI systems. ANAMNESIS by Petr Salaba & Ondrej Hrach presents a web-based chatbot game that assesses empathy towards an AI-simulated entity, challenging conventional interactions. Finally, VOCALIZE by Halsey Burgund & Francesca Panetta introduces an AI voice coach in a narrative exploring the potential and perils of AI in the voiceover industry. Together, these works probe the blurring lines between human and artificial intelligence, questioning identity, empathy, and the future of our digital selves.

Dystopian Bodies: Exploring Perplexing Futures
THE PATHOGEN OF WAR, a speculative interactive work based on the real science of antibiotic resistance, explains how a benign bacteria was driven by war to become a “perfect killer.”. ELSEWHERE IN INDIA by Murthovic & Thiruda is an immersive concert that contemplates the dystopian impact of technological growth on cultural heritage, through a narrative set in a future where global cultures are nearing extinction. Whereas FINITE HORIZON by Astria Suparak offers a critical view of Asian futures as imagined by Western filmmakers, combining elements from sci-fi cinema to question cultural appropriation and stereotyping.

Unbounded Bodies: Challenging Norms and Celebrating Diversity
In the ‘Unbounded Bodies’ section of INTER:ACTIVE, a rich tapestry of artworks explores the themes of dis/abilities, bodily functions, gender, and desire, challenging and expanding our perceptions of identity. From Matt McCorkle’s immersive XR journey ANTIPSYCHOTIC, delving into the nuances of bipolar disorder through a blend of sound and visual art, to Rebecca Merlic’s GLITCHBODIES, a game that celebrates diverse body transformations and LGBTQ+ identities, and Jess Coldrey’s INTO THE RABBIT HOLE, a mixed media reflection on endometriosis, each piece invites audiences into deeply personal yet universally resonant experiences. Adding depth, BLOOD SPEAKS by Poulomi Basu & CJ Clarke uses VR to critique gender and oppression, while THE SOUND VOICE PROJECT bridges live opera and synthetic voices to examine the intrinsic connection between voice and identity.

Entangled Bodies: Our Connection to Nature
Works under this theme visualize the interconnectedness between human bodies and the natural world, advocating for a harmonious coexistence. GARDEN OF GHOST FLOWERS – THE EMBODIMENT ARCHIVE by Untold Garden & Lundahl & Seitl is a VR experience that explores the resonance between technology, humans, and nature, symbolized by the growth of virtual ghost flowers responsive to human interaction.

Four of the exhibited works have been part of CPH:LAB’s cohorts on immersive media training (THE PATHOGEN OF WAR, VOCALIZE, GARDEN OF GHOST FLOWERS and ANAMNESIS).

The exhibition is available to all accredited guests as well as the public after purchasing a ticket.
You can find ticket information here.