DATA BEINGS (in progress)

Our data – organs without bodies are constantly flowing in cyberspace. But this seemingly intangible matter has a very physical form. We are collectively humming in muggy server basements, warehouses, farms. The electrical hum has become the anthem of a new generation of humans – data beings.

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The project is a collaboration between artist Letta Shtohryn and curator Kat Zavada. The starting point of exploring the “data beings” phenomenon is the mysterious death of cryptocurrency founder Gerald Cotten. The physical body was not found, but happened to Cotten's digital body? The new speculation about Gerald’s digital afterlife will attempt to tackle issues around the economics of data beings, problematic aspects of digital labour and technology in service of the new modes of production.

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The result of the collaboration will be the new chapter of Letta Shtohryn’s artistic speculation about Gerald Cotten’s afterlife titled “Crypto H(e)aven”. The project will have a digital and physical form. The launch of the digital part is planned for the beginning of December 2020. When the stars align, a physical show will happen. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// More information about Data Beings research https://katzavada.com/data-beings // More information about Crypto H(e)aven https://www.isthisitisthisit.com/crypto-heaven More information about the artist: Letta Shtohryn https://lettashtohryn.xyz/

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WORKS ON WORKS (ongoing)

Works On Work is a platform for transdisciplinary collaboration, discussion and knowledge exchange; a digital environment to look into work-related dilemmas in modern society. The project aims to examine the future of work, post-work, power relations between employees and employers, technological opportunities and threats, work performance and its aesthetics. Through essays, podcasts, interviews, and design & art projects, it seeks to explore, analyse and comment on the rhizome of work and its ethics. The project was founded by Kat Zavada, Tillman Kratzer and Jeremiasz Rzenno. // To participate contact us via email: contact@worksonwork.com

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HYPER HYPER podcast (ongoing)

There are some radical ideas too bold to be accepted now. Some of them will end up in the theory junkyard. Some of these ideas will become common sense. Hyper Hyper takes those fringe, but complex concepts and speculates on their of their possible impact on art and the artists’ situation. Each episode is a thought experiment in the form of ‘what if’.

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HYPER HYPER: #1 UBI

After Andrew Young's presidential campaign UBI appears back in the public debate. In the first episode together with Glasgow based artist, Janie Nicoll, we speculate about receiving a Basic Income. ///// Co-produced by Jeremiasz Rzenno www.rzenno.xyz // Music intro by Szymon Sapalski/ paszka // Many thanks to all people involved: Janie Nicoll, Jeremiasz Rzenno, Szymon Sapalski, Penny Anderson, Emalia Mattia, Miko Szatko, Toby P Lloyd, Cleo Goodman and Buddy Puked band.//Special thanks to Patrick Jameson for supervising the project.

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HYPER HYPER:#2 SHOCK DOCTRINE

Intro: paszka – teoretyczka wyrzucania os, excerpt.//Eric Zinman piano Steve Niemitz drums - Shock Doctrine (for Naomi Klein), excerpt.//Naomi Klein about her book Shock Doctrine Global Neoliberalism part  // TRSSX - Roam Like Fallacy (Unreleased)  // Milton Friedman’s quote read by Naomi Klein // Shalmali Shetty interview // Justyna Stasiowska – The most ingenious way of becoming foolish is by a system Shalmali Shetty interview  2 // Justyna Stasiowska – Plate VIII Extreme Types Of Bark~picturing And Peculiar Habits Accompanying Them  // Beatiz Lobo interview // bakblivv – me- log out // James Wood interview // Polyphonic protest "Walczcie z wirusem nie z kobietami" (Fight virus, not women)// Edka Jarząb (sound design), Diana Lelonek (action initiator) // Yihang Hu interview 

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Kat Zavada (b. 1990, Poland) is an independent curator, researcher and spiritual technocrat based in Glasgow. She uses speculation as a method to investigate radical & fringe concepts. Her current research examines “humans as data beings”, dataveillance and post-work imaginaries.

After her first Master’s in Social Communication at the Pedagogical University of Cracow with a dissertation titled “The political image of the alt-right movement in Poland”, Kat went on to study MLitt Curatorial Practice Contemporary Art at The Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow.

Recent curatorial projects include: Data Beings – collaboration with artisit Letta Shtohryn (in progress), Works On Work – collaborative research platform (ongoing), Hyper Hyper podcast (ongoing). She conducted a research in support of the COP26 related programme during her internship at the CCA Glasgow (disrupted by COVID-19). Kat contributed to the organisation of several arts and culture projects such as Cracow Gallery Weekend (2018), she founded and organised the visual art & experimental music festival Nadmiar/Excess (2017 – ongoing).
Portfolio: www.katzavada.com

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Curatorial Statement ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Curation for me is a form of critical enquiry, knowledge creation and exchange.
I use speculation as a method to investigate fringe or radical topics – to question the present by constructing alternative realities. My process bounces between academic rigour and humour, as I tackle academic themes in a sometimes non-academic manner.

My curatorial process has a rhizomatic structure, an assemblage of the political, economics, sociology, philosophy and pop culture. My research spans neoliberal tech utopias, South China Post’s newsletter, Reddit memes, Reza Negarestani’s tweets and conspiracy theories. I’m intrigued by topics related to post-work, late capitalism, data colonialism and post-Anthropocene imaginaries.

Each new project has its beginnings in a ‘curatorial crush’ which is born out of excitement, uncertainty and true admiration for an artist’s practice. This, I believe, leads to a dynamic collaboration full of challenging discussions and intellectual stimulations. Through my curatorial practice, I strive for genuine relations built upon trust and mutual respect, but foremost, openness to honest feedback and constructive critique.

I don’t have just one curatorial methodology and I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, I approach projects by learning the process and needs of my collaborators. I listen, respond and adjust to find a comfortable and effective way of working for both sides. It is a flexible and empathetic way of working. This creates a solid base that allows for exciting explorations and the creation of new knowledge.