TTT2025 Ljubljana: Call for Papers, Artist-Talks and Artwork Presentations
Submission of abstracts/descriptions: until December 31, 2024
September 9–13, 2025 | Kino Šiška, Slovenia
The sixth international conference "Taboo - Transgression - Transcendence in Art & Science" will take place September 9–13, 2025, in Slovenia, in partnership with Kino Šiška. The TTT2025 Ljubljana conference remains dedicated to exploring (a) the forbidden and the aesthetics of liminality through art that employs or is inspired by technology and science, and (b) a free and inclusive space for creative, interdisciplinary convergence between science and art. With our host partner and collaborating institutions, we look forward to building upon the collaborative spirit of previous gatherings, fostering discussions on the boundaries of art, ethics, and innovation.
From mythology to contemporary inquiry, taboos define experiential borders. Humankind’s fascination with the limits of knowledge and experimentation, akin to the tale of Icarus, is as relevant as ever. As boundaries shift, what once seemed transgressive may become mainstream. Science and technology push us to reconsider our ethical frameworks, especially in fields like genome editing, human augmentation, and AI, which pose essential questions about the nature of humanity and our evolving identity. Echoing Frankenstein’s pursuit of life’s mysteries, the drive to transcend limitations persists, fueling both caution and curiosity.
The post-pandemic era invites us to reassess collective identity and belonging, questioning self-containment, isolation, and our evolving relationship with communal experiences and existential risks. The delicate balance between control and liberation emerges, especially as we face the residual impact of genetic engineering and health crises. Art and science engage in a transgressive dance, probing limits to unveil fragilities and societal values. Could this intersection foster a reimagining of identity, resilience, and ethics? The interplay of taboo, transgression, and transcendence in this context challenges us to rethink identity, boundaries, and freedom, particularly within the context of art-science fusion.
Submission Topics
We invite contributions from diverse fields, particularly those that combine art and science through technological innovation and conceptual experimentation. Suggested (but not exclusive) topics include:
- Biopunk Aesthetics, Hybridization, and the Politics of Mutation
- Cyborg Futures, Sensory Augmentation, and Body Modification
- Mind Chemistry, Natural Healers, and Cognitive Frontiers
- Biohacking, DIY/DIWO Practices, and Radical Biotechnologies
- Artificial Intelligence, Creative Autonomy, and Synthetic Agency
- Human and Nonhuman Ethology: Inter-Species Communication and Interaction
- Post-Gender Identities, Transgressive Bodies, and Social Imaginaries
- Erotics, Attraction, and Queer Desire in Art and Science
- Witchcraft, Gender, and Histories of Scientific Inquiry
- Evolution, Genetic Plasticity, and Resilience
- Symbiosis, Parasitism, and the Microbiome
- Biopolitics, Migration, and Systems of Resistance
- Pandemics, Bioterror, and the Crisis of Scientific Trust
- Ecological Restoration, Rewilding, and Climate Resilience
- Biodiversity, Subterranean Ecosystems, and Extremophiles
Submission Guidelines
All submited abstracts/descriptions are reviewed by the scientific-artistic committee who is responsible for the selection of proposals. Accepted proposals for papers and artist-talks presentations are grouped within a session including 3-4 participants, scheduled for 15 minutes per presentation plus an additional 15 minutes for group Q&A at the end of the session. Acceptance of artwork presentations proposals is limited by space, time and technology available as well as curatorial principles. Each abstract/description should be submitted through TTT digital platform until December 31, 2024.
