Mushroom-DJs, Strong AI and Climate Change - Connecting the Dots with Artistic Research

This 38-minute talk from the 38th Chaos Communication Congress (38C3) explores how artistic research contributes to knowledge production through unconventional approaches. Discover how ZKM | Hertzlab, the artistic research & development department of the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, combines art's exploratory nature with scientific inquiry to address contemporary challenges. Learn about innovative projects involving music-making mushrooms, moonshine production, AI's societal impacts, and environmental concerns like lithium extraction. The presentation examines six guiding themes—lifecycles, connect, a common(s) world, ai-lab, post-human world, and fellow futures—that frame artistic research at one of Europe's oldest media art institutions. Gain insights into the benefits and challenges of artistic research practices and understand how a hacker mindset serves as a foundation for becoming an artistic researcher.