Social circuitry

posted by Cptn

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to span the digital divide, combat social exclusion and be artistic? That’s exactly what Brazilian artist Ricardo Ruiz has been up to, and he brings his skills and experience to Plymouth on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1 for you to share in a workshop.

Anyone can book a place on the free workshop with Ruiz (of artists’ group MimoSa). Workshop participants will use redundant technology to create a portable recording device that will be used to gather peoples’ stories in Plymouth.

We take our hat off to the achievements, that according to the press release say: “Ricardo Ruiz has been one of the catalysts for the introduction of open-source software in Brazil. And over the past six years, Ruiz has developed and implemented three major programmes within Brazilian governmental policy, devising ways in which free software could be implemented on the government’s social programmes, the most notable success being within the Ministry of Culture.

He is one of the founders of MimoSa, an artist’s collective formed in 2005. “MimoSa creates portable systems from redundant technology to document people’s lives. The group underlines the politics inherent in the access to technology, and is motivated by the idea that people start to think critically about media when they start to produce their own.”

Here at the PRSD we rely on out-of-date technology and outmoded ideas of media, so we may well be booking a seat or two ourselves.

The workshop coincides with Plymouth Arts Centre’s current exhibition of contemporary Brazilian art, entitled Estrategia (translated as “Strategies”), which runs until June 22.

• MimoSa’s two-day workshop takes place on May 31 – June 1 and is free, although early booking is advised. Call the box office on 01752 206 114.

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