Faculty of Arts and Design of the West University of Timisoara (UVT) announces its participation in Ars Electronica 2025 (Linz, Austria), the most prestigious international festival dedicated to exploring the connections between art, technology and society. Founded in 1979, the Ars Electronica festival is globally recognized as a unique meeting place for artists, designers, researchers and innovators, where the latest trends in digital art, media art and contemporary design are presented and discussed. Ars Electronica annually includes exhibitions, conferences, performances and workshops and hosts the famous Prix Ars Electronica, one of the most prestigious awards for art and technology. Themes such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, biotechnology, robotics and interactive art are part of the festival program, transforming Linz into a true laboratory of the future.

The Faculty of Arts and Design of the West University of Timișoara participates in Ars Electronica Campus Linz 2025 with the project "Techno-Ecologies for a Fragile Earth", an artistic and theoretical approach that reflects the theme of the festival Panic Yes/No through the lens of the "three ecologies" formulated by Félix Guattari - the ecology of the environment, of social relations and of the mental universe. The audience will discover an experimental terrain where the theme of the festival is embodied through:

• recycling as a language of collective resistance – artistic strategy against the global crisis;
• decoding digital illusions – critical exercise of the senses and thinking, as a form of liberation from technological dominance;
• imagining techno-ecology and techno-nostalgia – perspectives on sustainability and reconfiguring the relationship with technology and its history, through involvement, courage, creativity and critical thinking.

Participants, Faculty of Arts and Design UVT:

• Alumni / Installation: Andreea Pleșa & Mihaela Vișovan, Bogdan Matei;
• Students / Installation: Deian Berar, Paul Babencu;
• Students / Film: Elena Ilin, Matei Negruțiu, Bianca Pascu, Callista Birta, Daniela A. Radu, Andrei Bucovanu, Francisco Jardim Henriques.

Curator: lect. dr. Aura Bălănescu. Opening speech: prof. dr. Diana Andreescu, dean of FAD – UVT.

"Ars Electronica is not just a festival, but also a global platform for innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue. For us, participation represents a unique opportunity to connect the creativity of our students and faculty with the great international directions in art and design."", said Prof. Dr. Diana Andreescu.

More information: https://ars.electronica.art/panic/en/view/techno-ecologies-for-a-fragile-earth-20e38ddb450c81679c8afdc04c2307a6/

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Event details:

• Period: September 3–7, 2025;
• Visiting hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00–20:00;
• Location: University of Arts and Design Linz (Hauptplatz 6–8).

COORDINATOR

• Techno-Ecologies for a Fragile Earth: Lecturer Dr. Aura Bălănescu and Associate Professor Dr. Ion Gherman;
• Techno-Nostalgia: Lost & Found: lect. dr. Ioana Dorobanțu-Gordon and associate professor dr. Dan Rațiu;
• FutureFrames.Tm: assistant professor Dr. Amalia Gaiță and lecturer Dr. Mădălin Mărienuț.

Organizers

• Faculty of Arts and Design, West University of Timișoara, through the Center for Research and Creation in Decorative Arts and Design (CCCADD) and the Center for Creation in Contemporary Visual Arts (CCAVC);
• Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG.

Cultural partners:

• Linz University of the Arts;
• Faber Timisoara;
• Future Frames Tm.

Co-financiers:

• UniCredit Bank, through the West University Foundation of Timișoara;
• National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN).

"The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.”

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