On the term Media Archaeology

Our perception of the world takes place to a great extent via the media, media which unmistakably contribute to the transformation of our civilization. Active media archeology addresses the medium with questions, conducts artistic basic research that permeates the various layers of time and artistically activates the medium in the here and now.

The term ”media archaeology” was coined by Siegfried Zielinski in his book ”Archäologie der Medien. Zur Tiefenzeit des technischen Hörens und Sehens” (The Archaeology of the Media. On the deep time of technical seeing and hearing) in 2002. Zielinski takes time’s arrow out of the present and directs it via past events and persons to a possible future. His attention is focused on oddities that in his mind, are ”finds from the rich history of seeing, hearing and combining by means of technical tools”. Thus, he leaves the linear path of historiography and, through his finds, opens up different options of constructing the future.

The IMA Institute of Media Archeology works at the boundary between the analog and the digital and the interface between research and communication, above all in connection with acoustics, sound machines, and digital music.

digging | women, art and technology

The emphasis is on unearthing female productions in the field of electronic arts, analyzing their place in the overall historical context, and making them visible to a wider audience. Within this area of research the Institute seeks even more specifically to focus on the acoustic arts in all their manifestations.

The goal is to embed and theoretically contemplate current art production in a historical overall context. This basis will enable us to encourage international networking and cooperation between artists and institutions. This network can and should be conceived as cross-disciplinary in order to flesh out the accompanying theoretical framework. Cooperation projects should not just occur passively but are also actively encouraged.

To the IMA, technology and art by women are clearly and positively linked. Whether this art comes/came from working with or manipulating electronic devices or from programming computers is irrelevant. The main thing is the active focus on dealing with technological developments.

Documenting and working with these unearthed productions in a contemporary context is, of course, one of the primary interests of the Institute. In 2003 MIT published “Women, Art & Technology” edited by Judy Malloy. This book very specifically discusses the work and work methods of women/artists in connection with technology. Along these conceptual lines the IMA has two series of its own – IMA Fiction and Machine Divas – in which it explores the (sometimes very hard to access) accomplishments of women.

Team

Elisabeth Schimana
  • Elisabeth Schimana | Artistic Director
  • has been working as a composer, performer and radio artist since 1983. She studied electro-acoustics and experimental music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and musicology and ethnology at the University of Vienna. 2005 she founded IMA Institute of Media Archeology.
Tamara Wilhelm
  • Tamara Wilhelm | Project Development
  • lives in Vienna, she works as a musician, sound engineer and cultural worker. She studied at the Institute for Electroacoustic Composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. One of her main interests is DIY electronics, she builds simple oscillators whose sparse sounds she uses in musical collaborations, sound installations and compositions.
Anita Hofmann
  • Anita Hofmann | Assistance
  • I did my diploma for musical with focus on dance at the Stage Stage School of Music, Dance and Drama Hamburg. Stage artist, producer for music-theater and creative director for various projects, for example Fastenbesinnung at dome St. Pölten.
Mathias Schimana
  • Mathias Schimana | Website Editor
  • studied jazz drums in Wr. Neustadt. Since 2018 various training courses in the field of web development. Works as a web developer and musician. Loves and practices music and Qi Gong.
Norbert Math
  • Norbert Math | Server
  • studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts (Institute of Electroacoustics). Projects in the fields of Radio Art, Electronic Music, Installation, Net Art et alii
Lu (Ludwig Zeininger)
  • Lu (Ludwig Zeininger) | Server
  • I studied Computer Engineering at Technical University Vienna. I studied Electro-Acustics at Music University Vienna. For many years, i used to work as a programmer und systems administrator, notably for the Arts and cultural institutions. Currently, i run a small IT business, and, as ever, i advocate Open Source, Open Standards, Open Minds.

Board

Seppo Gründler
  • Seppo Gründler | Board
  • Has been involved in music, sound, communication and „crafting“ (media, software, electronic devices) for 25 years. He is head of the Master's programme „Media and Interaction Design at FH-Joanneum.“
  • gruendler.mur.at
Eva Ursprung
  • Eva Ursprung | Board
  • Actions, installations, objects, art in electronic, public and social space. Work with video, photography, sound and (music) performances.
  • ursprung.mur.at
Ushi Reiter
  • Ushi Reiter | Board
  • studied visual media design at the University of Art and Design Linz. As an artist, she works on conceptual and performative setups with different media. As an organizer, she works in the field of media and net culture. Managing Director of https://core.servus.at/
  • firstfloor.org/ur
Andreas Rathmanner
  • Andreas Rathmanner | Accountant
  • Scholarship for photography at the Summer Academy in Salzburg, studies at the University of Applied Arts with Oswald Oberhuber and sociology and journalism studies at the University of Vienna. Both canceled and after a multi-year trip to the stage design as a graphic designer worked. 1991 Foundation of the media agency FOX in Vienna, which specializes in environmental, social and cultural topics. Since 2015 festival director STRAND GUT in Kamptal.
  • fox.co.at
Norbert Math
  • Norbert Math | Accountant
  • studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (Institute for Electroacoustics and Experimental Music) in Vienna. Projects in the fields of radio art, electronic music, installation, net art, etc.
  • alien.mur.at

Members

People

  • J
  • Jackson Myle
  • Jacobs Nisi
  • Jamieson Helen Varley
  • Jäger Helmuth
  • Jelinek Elfriede
  • Jimeno Margarita
  • Justel Elsa
  • Juza Marija
  • Jupitter-Larsen Gerald
  • O
  • Oliver Julian
  • Ona B.
  • One Man Nation
  • Oppel Clara
  • Osmanovic Zlatan
  • Q
  • Qalandar Aghela
  • T
  • Tactical Tech
  • Termen Lev
  • Tesla Nikola
  • Thüringer Christian
  • Tietjen Friedrich
  • Tikhonova Lena
  • Time’s Up
  • Tóth Pál
  • Traun Dominik
  • Tuszynski Marek