Toril Johannessen

Gruppebilde Bergen

‘Gruppebilde Bergen’ is a work in progress for Bergen City Hall. Through Fall and Winter 2020/2021 residents of Bergen, Norway, were invited to contribute their portrait to the project. The submitted portraits were processed by machine learning technology, in order to create new portraits of “Bergeners” for two large tapestries for Bergen City Hall.

Portraits were collected through an online open call and photo shoots at various public spaces around Bergen. Machine learning and database setup: BEK – Bergen senter for elektronisk kunst and SEDB – Sindre Sørensen. Digital jacquard weaving: Kristina D. Aas for Innvik AS.

Spoiled Waters Spilled

Participating artists: Minia Biabiany, Marjolijn Dijkman, Marianne Fahmy, Toril Johannessen, Valentina Karga, Jessika Khazrik for The Society of False Witnesses, Anouk Kruithof, Rikke Luther, Elvia Teotski. Curated by Clelia Coussonnet and Inga Lāce. 

Beyond Measure

The group show ‘Beyond Measure’ includes works by Meriç Algün / Oddvar Daren / Luca Frei / Alexander Gutke / Toril Johannessen / Ragnar Kjartansson / Vida Lavén / Falke Pisano.

Sonic Acts Academy

Presentation of Reclaiming Vision in the conference ‘Magical Thinking: Towards a Future Worth Living’ at Sonic Acts Academy, Amsterdam.

This conference proposes the ​‘magical thinking’ – a belief that thoughts and actions can influence the world – as a provocation. In current dystopian scenarios of future life on Earth, from environment to democracy, imagining a future worth living might reduce anxiety that paralyses action, thereby creating an openness to more inclusive thinking. The questions that need answering are: What is a future worth living (and for whom)? Which tactics can get us there? How can one get from climate emergency and catastrophic populism, fuelled by extractive capitalism, to a world of social/​ecological justice and multispecies equality? With focus on artistic research and strategies of visibility and mobilisation through art, this forum wishes to open up critical discussions and propose routes towards a future worth living.

The Invention and Conclusion of the Eye

The manuscript for The Invention and Conclusion of the Eye is published as part of Supplement, an occasional pamphlet series by Filip. Produced in partnership with Plug In ICA, Winnipeg, The Invention and Conclusion of the Eye presents a possible future of human vision told through a narrative conversation between a sole protagonist and a computer. Interwoven with contemporary and historical diagrams plotting various aspects of sight, the work depicts vision as a historical construct evolving alongside technology. Published in English, Norwegian, and French.