SPECULATIVE

2011 – 2014

SPECULATIVE is an ongoing curatorial project developed with artists Zach Blas and Michael Kontopoulos. The group explores the political imaginary and futurism found within artist projects working with surveillance, biology, ecology, and more.

DARK MATTER

Machine Project, Los Angeles

Dark Matter Double Feature
Machine Project: Friday October 12, 2012
Physicist Jennifer Siegal-Gaskins and artist Ricardo Dominguez will present two perspectives on the invisible, intangible, enigmatic mystery material Dark Matter. Their diverging viewpoints will collide at a stimulating evening exploring hidden facets of our universe and culture.

9 Perspectives on Dark Matter
Machine Project: Friday November 2, 2012
Our exploration of Dark Matter will continue this week, with ten artists, researchers, writers and ethnographers approaching the theme of dark matter in ten eclectic, short-form talks.

Featuring Lectures by:
Zach Blas, Jeff Cain, Amisha Gadani, Christopher Kardambikis, Michael Kontopoulos, Chandler McWilliams, Lily Nguyen, Christopher O’Leary, Pinar Yoldas.

Video Art & Other Experiments
Machine Project: Thursday November 29, 2012
SPECULATIVE presents a screening on Dark Matter, a schizophrenic mix of video art and other experiments. This evening will offer glimpses of Dark Matter through the anonymous materials, inexplicable behaviors and intangible networks found in the work of this eclectic selection of artists:
Ryan Trecartin, Pascual Sisto, Claudia Salamanca, Ian Alan Paul, Johann Lurf, Joe Hamilton, Megan Daalder, Michelle Dizon, Brody Condon, Jennifer Chan

SPECULATIVE @ LACE

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions

The SPECULATIVE reader
Edited by Christopher O’Leary and Zach Blas. This book contains essays and works of fiction written by guests and the artists themselves. Available at Amazon.

Guest writers:
Jack Halberstam, *Particle Group*, Scott Bukatman, Jordan Crandall, Pedro Lasch, Alexander Galloway, Sean Dockray

Features artists:
Casey Alt, Zach Blas, Jeff Cain, Micha Cardenas, Xarene Eskandar, Michael Kontopoulos, Elle Mehrmand, Christopher O’Leary, Claudia Salamanca, Pinar Yoldas

SPECULATIVE is a curatorial project which was exhibited at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibits from June 16, 2011 to August 28th, 2011. Developed with co-curator Zach Blas, the show brings together 9 projects which explore speculation as a political and creative practice.

Artists:
Casey Alt, Zach Blas, Jeff Cain, Micha Cardenas, Xarene Eskandar, Michael Kontopoulos, Elle Mehrmand, Christopher O’Leary, Claudia Salamanca, Pinar Yoldas