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There is a great need nowadays to make progressive artistic inquiries in the sound based media that are ultimately facing abandonment due to technological globalization. CONA – Institute for Contemporary Arts Processing entered the zone of activism with its project ‘Radio Arts Space’ which rethinks the inclusion of sound art in the overly commercialized radio space. As this open call will exhibit, sound based art has evolved into strong artistic and engaged concepts that are of great importance for global cultural development. Works that I have particularly chosen to represent the examples of good practices belong to advanced anthropological, environmental, literary and contemporary music contexts and research that are bringing forward artistic concepts of immense value.

In the works of my curatorial choice you will find innovative interdisciplinary research as a basis for high artistic implementations. Culturally engaged patterns include urban and ancient anthropology, scientific data and art-science integration, literary interpretations, as well as conceptual and experimental practices.

Included in the selection are the life-long research of Laurette Séjourné (the work of Sol Rezza: The year of the Rabbit) which examines an important figure of the 20th century archeology and anthropology in South America, amazing urban interrogatives revealing local identities through field recordings of open markets from all around the world (the work of Mario Verandi: Street Markets Remixed), an incredible literary interpretation of Dylan Thomas accompanied by electronic music (the work of Jason Bolte: And Death…); an in depth scientific inquiry into the ecosystem and climate change in Northern Ireland (the work of Softday: Marbh Chrios (Dead Zone) Remediation #1); an engaged media archeology in the works of Mark Vernon and H. A. K. Lo-Fi Record collective, conceptual implementations of urban nostalgia in the work of Renset, the application of experimental new performing practices such as psychoacoustics (Irad Lee) or playing on the book with violin bow (Hainer Wörmann), and, finally, a new generation of sound conceptualists (Lee Fraser and Alja Piry). These works won’t leave you doubting their conceptual clearness as they transcend contemporary tendencies in a most delicate manner.

21st century started a decade ago and human progressivism, innovation and engaged, critical thought are opening up new possibilities for shifting the planetary dynamics towards acceptance of cultural globalism. This selection presents a new direction, an alternative for our societies, enabling us to invent a new paradigm of the role of art and culture in the development of new universal values.

With the development of new technologies, art and culture are the most progressive social disciplines in propounding multiculturalism, bringing about new awareness with content that transcends national identity and brings us a step closer towards free culture available to everyone. In this new environment I am putting forward 11 authors/groups that exhibit a high level of intellectual thought, confronting us with new practices and innovative approaches in sound arts. The works of these artists gathered from all around the world are a real injection of hope, and I am hoping to pass its value on to new generations of artists and cultural operators, interested in structural development of our societies through the means of arts & culture.

- Manja Ristić