6-7pm PST @ University of Melbourne

IFF director Margaret Wertheim is delivering a keynote address at the Event Horizon Symposium at the University of Melbourne. The symposium is inspired by the extraordinary Event Horizon Telescope image of a black hole at the heart of galaxy M87. During the 3-day symposium, speakers and panelists will consider the cultural, aesthetic and scientific impacts of this image, and reflect on an “event horizon” as a metaphor for understanding many of the defining, boundary-crossing issues of our times.

Ms Wertheim will deliver a talk, by pre-recorded Zoom, on the topic “The Shape of Space”, which will be available on the symposium website from August 18, 2020.

Wertheim will also participate in a live Zoom panel discussion about the cultural resonances of the Event Horizon image. Date&Time in Melbourne: August 21, 11am-12noon. Date&Time in USA: August 20, 6-7pm PST.

Event Horizon Symposium is co-hosted by the Center of the Visual Arts (CoVA) at the University of Melbourne and by Science Gallery Melbourne. The symposium coincides with the publication of a special issue of Art + Australia, in which artists, scientists, writers and cultural theorists explore the theme of “event horizons” as a way of thinking about issues ranging from immigration to science fiction to a potential end of the world.

Event dates: August 18-21, 2020.

Symposium speakers: Artists: Margaret Wertheim, Stelarc, Karlie Noon, Lynette Smith, Sean Cubitt; Dr. Suzie Fraser (Director: CoVA), Dr. Ryan Jeffries (Director: Science Gallery Melbourne), Dr. Ted Colless (Editor: Art + Australia), and others.

Symposium website.