Day 2 | Talks & Masterclasses | Onassis ONX / AiR Open Days 2024

13:00 - 14:30: Talk | Imagining Tomorrow: Art, Technology, and Innovation for a Better Society

Michael Mondria, Managing Director, Ars Electronica Solutions

Art is a powerful catalyst for imagining a better future, opening up new perspectives, sparking curiosity, and inspiring creative solutions. In a time of rapid technological change and pressing environmental challenges, Ars Electronica seeks to connect established and emerging fields of knowledge, to build pathways toward a sustainable society and to unleash bold, forward-looking ideas for a world in transition.

About Michael Mondria

Michael Mondria (formely Michael Badics) is managing director of Ars Electronica Solutions, a division of Ars Electronica dedicated to developing customized solutions for interactive exhibitions, events, products, and services.

Before joining AE Solutions, he founded and led Memetics GmbH, a Berlin-based company in the field of media art and creative technologies. Earlier in his career, he co-managed Ars Electronica Futurelab, where he realized international art, cooperation, and third-party projects focusing on cutting-edge technologies. Prior to this position, he worked as a software engineer and manager at the multinational software company Fabasoft AG. Michael Mondria started his career by studying computer sciences at JKU (Johannes Kepler University) in Linz.

16:30 – 17:45: Talk | Bytes, Pixels, Molecules: Designing Digital Matter

George Adamopoulos, Co-founder, Uncharted Limbo Collective

• Case Study: "Oxygen" | With the presence of George Koutlis, Director of "Oxygen"

The programmer, artist, and architect George Adamopoulos, taking the performance “Oxygen” as a starting point, weaves together a mosaic of works by the Uncharted Limbo collective. He explains how the analysis of human movement, the study of natural phenomena and biological organisms, and the development of original algorithmic tools lead to the creation of interactive artworks across a wide range of fields, including theater, dance, fashion, museum experiences, science communication, and branding.

About Uncharted Limb

Uncharted Limbo is a London and Athens-based collective of creative coders and visual artists. They craft cutting-edge new media experiences at the intersection of code, interactive visuals, and performing arts.

Drawing inspiration from the complexity of natural phenomena and human movement, the collective collaborates with choreographers, directors, composers, architects, and scientists to create digital artworks across various scales. The core team—George Adamopoulos, Eleana Polychronaki, Chris Waters, and Philip Pappas—combines expertise in architecture, computational design, software development, and VFX. They weave visual storytelling with the latest advances in computational geometry, real-time simulation, motion capture, machine learning, and game technology.

Their work manifests as holographic projections for live performances, experimental short films, VR experiences, music videos, interactive exhibits, and 360-degree projections for media domes and planetariums. They have featured in prestigious institutions and festivals worldwide, including the BFI Film Festival, London College of Fashion, Sadler’s Wells, Victoria & Albert Museum, SAT Montreal, Onassis Stegi, and the Arte European Culture TV channel.

Recipients of the S+T+ARTS AIR European grant, they explore the nexus of performing arts and AI. In 2024, they won the Grand Prix for Digital Craft at Cannes Lions for “Spreadbeats” (commissioned by Spotify)—a music video coded and experienced entirely in Excel. The theatrical production “Oxygen” at Onassis Stegi is the team’s artistic debut in their homeland, Greece.

18:00 – 19:15: Talk | 2014–2024: Immersive Production Strategies in an Ever-Changing Landscape

Arnaud Colinart, Producer & Creative Director, Atlas V

Drawing from a decade of pioneering work in immersive storytelling, Arnaud Colinart offers a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of production strategies in a rapidly shifting media landscape. This session will highlight key lessons learned, from the integration of emerging technologies to adapting workflows for innovative formats like VR, AR, and interactive installations. Designed with a focus on production, the talk will provide actionable insights and inspiration for embracing the potential of technology to create engaging and transformative content, address project scalability, and foster audience engagement.

About Arnaud Colinart

Arnaud Colinart began his career at AGAT Films / Ex Nihilo, producing digital content and web documentaries for leading broadcasters like ARTE and France Télévisions. As a partner at AGAT, he expanded into animation and new media, producing notable works such as “Tu Mourras Moins Bête” and the internationally acclaimed video game Type:Rider. His groundbreaking project “Notes on Blindness,” which included a feature film and a VR experience, earned widespread recognition, including a Legacy Peabody Award, and marked his transition to co-founding ATLAS V in 2017. At ATLAS V, Colinart has led the production of award-winning VR experiences, immersive shows, and generative AI films, solidifying his role as a pioneer in interactive storytelling and immersive media.

19:30 – 21:00: Artists Talks | Onassis ONX Proof-of-Concept program Finalists

The Onassis ONX Immersive Proof-of-Concept program culminates in a special presentation day, showcasing the innovative outcomes of the participating creative teams. After six months of experimentation with advanced technologies and having received funding and mentorship, the teams will present their groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of technology and creativity. This session highlights the innovation and collaboration fostered within the Smart Attica European Digital Innovation Hub and celebrates the first Onassis ONX projects developed in Athens.

• FRUITS of the WEB
• Sense of Time
• Side Hustle
• Solastalgia XR