A 48-hour Art Hack Event challenge and exhibition

An exhibition of works created in a 48-hour sprint by teams of artists and hackers around the role(s) of the internet in society.

How many likes make a truth?
The Internet was originally hailed as an inherently democratic medium that would promote democracy, sweep away corrupt gatekeepers, and make it easy for anyone to create or access knowledge. From that would come better solutions, more transparency, and citizens with more power than at any time in history. Now the basic assumption of a common truth has been disrupted by a technology that can offer any reality and alter any history, on demand, 24/7. Rather than heralding a peaceful global commons, we find ourselves fragmented into echo chambers and struggling to find common ground outside of our friends list.

As the dream of a democratic Internet fades we are left to question what role it actually plays in our society and government. As hackers, we have little time to mourn the loss of techno-utopian ideals as there is an urgent need to critically examine the impact of our creation and consider mechanisms for mediation. As hackers, many of us were involved in the development and advancement of the very Internet that now seems to be working against us.

What do we do now that the Internet has revealed many of our dreams to be illusory?

Art Hack Day is both an event and organization: an internet-based nonprofit dedicated to hackers whose medium is art and artists whose medium is tech. AHD bridges the gap between art, technology, and entrepreneurship with grassroots hackathons and exhibitions that demonstrate the expressive potential of new technology and the power of radical collaboration in art. We believe in non-utilitarian beauty through technology and its ability to affect social change for public good.

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For more information including participating artists please see the event website at: http://www.arthackday.net/events/echo-chamber