Einbildung

Ambiguity in Art and in the Brain - Architectures of Vision 
Thu, 18.12.2003, Space04, 19:00h 
Lecture by Prof. Dr. Semir Zeki

Semir Zeki is Professor of Neurobiology in the University of London (University College London) and co-head of the Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology. He studied medicine and anatomy at University College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, London and he is a foreign Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Member of the Academia Europaea, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

One of the primordial functions of the brain is the acquisition of knowledge. The apparatus that it has evolved to do so is flexible enough to allow it to acquire knowledge about unambiguous conditions on the one hand (colour vision being a good example), and about situations that are capable of two or more interpretations, each one of which has equal validity with the others. However, in the latter instance, we can only be conscious of one interpretation at any given moment. The study of ambiguity thus gives us some insights into how activity at different stations of the brain can result in a micro-consciousness for an attribute, and also tell us something about interactions between different cerebral areas that result in several potential micro-conscious correlates, though only one predominates at any given time.
Finally, the study of ambiguity also gives us insights into the neurological machinery that artists have tapped to create the ambiguity that is commonly a hallmark of great works of art.

9.-10.3.2004 , Architectures of Vision Symposium
In the context of the exhibition Einbildung - Perception in Art Kunsthaus Graz organizes a symposium which is going to elaborate theoretical aspects of the exhibition.

Fr., January 09, 2004
18.00h Peter Pakesch: Perceptual Art - Artistic Perception, Introductory Word
18.30h Richard Gregory: Illusions As Secret Artifacts

Sat., January 10, 2004, a.m.
09:00h Georges Teyssot: The Phantasmagoria of Things and the Inner Vision of Architecture
10:00h Taft Green: Speeds of Interpretation: Models of Desire
10:45h Ilona Kovacs: Capturing Time: From E. J. Marey to Modern Neuroscience
11:45h David Rokeby: (mis)Representing Seeing
12:15h Panel Discussion, chaired by Csaba Pleh

Sat., January 10, 2004, p.m. 
14.15h Peter Weibel: Theories of Vision in 20th Century Austria. From Stereoscopy to Cyberspace
15.15h Esther Stocker: Vague exact forms
15.45h Mark A. Cheetham: Perception, in the Abstract
17.00h Nicholas Wade: Space and Motion in Science and Art
18.00h Panel Discussion chaired by Gabor Zemplen

Sun., January 11, 2004
11.00h Closing Panel Discussion chaired by Martin Prinzhorn
15.00h Werner Nekes: Beetween the images - Looking and the mind of Man
15.30h Screening of Werner Nekes films: Vieltausendschau (55 min. Film), Ulilsses 90 Min. Film