POSTED BY: lesophie | Sun Nov 4th, 2012 10:34 p.m.

Studio XX presents

Feminist Festival of Media Arts + Digital Culture
10-18 November 2012, Montreal

* exhibitions * performances * screenings * workshops * panels * conference * speedshow * hackathon * publication *

The 10th edition of The HTMlles will take up the notion of risk. To risk: to gain or to lose (it is uncertain), to expose oneself to a possibility... Risk is a potential. Whether used positively or negatively, the idea of risk implies that of evaluation, action and distribution, and thus, power. While the term "risk" evolved with the development of capitalism, the concept of "risk society" is about twenty years old and has been used by scholars to describe how modern society organizes around the idea of risk, that is, in response to a future (which society should be able to manage). By simply invoking or imagining the future, one immediately engages in risky behaviours. Anything and everything can become risky... Indeed, there exists a global economic and industrial complex organized around monitoring and moderating "risk", from insurance companies to investment products, as well as technologies and approved, standardized methods of risk assessment and risk management. There are also whole sets of techniques of calculation, "optimization" and social control that rely on the presence of a notion of "risk," from so-called "at-risk-populations" to who are considered "vulnerable," "suspect" or, increasingly so nowadays, "insolvable."

In such a critical moment, it is perhaps crucial to ask (ourselves) some questions. How does the language of risk articulate itself today? What is at risk today? How can one take risks today? What are the different levels of risk in our various (trans)actions? What is the relationship between risk, technology and power? How is risk both managed and created? How is it distributed? Since when does one "invest" in one's future and what does it actually mean? Do "crises" serve to pacify the communities being affected by these "crises"? Who are they? What do artists have to say about these so-called risks and crises? How is making art risky today? Who speaks? To whom and in the name of what?

The HTMlles is a feminist festival of media arts and digital culture produced in Montreal by Studio XX, a bilingual feminist artist-run centre for technological exploration, creation and critique. Initiated in 1997, the HTMlles is an international platform dedicated to the presentation of women's, trans and gender non-conforming artists' independent media artworks from all facets of contemporary technological creation.

* More than 50 local, national & international artists * 27 events * 18 venues *

Violeta Vojvodic-Balaz / Jim Bell / Susanne Berkenheger / Zach Blas / Lindsay MacDonald + Sheelagh Carpendale / Channel TWo / Micha Cárdenas / Koby R. H. + Frédéric Carmel / CERRUCHA / Valérie Cordy / Juliet Davis / Nathalie Demers / DNP / Keg de Souza / Julie Matson + Adina Edwards / Solomiya Moroz and Ali El-Darsa / Johnston Newfield + Johnny Forever / Nikki Forrest / Gambletron / Anne Goldenberg / Sarah L'Hérault / Arkadi Lavoie Lachapelle / Pamela Lamb / Hannah Leja Epstein / Les délicates attentions / Elisha Lim + Coco Riot / lnd4 / Nancy Mauro-Flude / Devon McKellar / Prema Murthy / Alexis O'Hara / Rickie Lea Owens / Jen Reimer / subRosa / Lori Weidenhammer / & many more...

The HTMlles 10 website

The HTMlles 10 Blog

The HTMlles 10 Twitter

Can't attend but wish to support this unique festival?

more info + workshop registration:


Studio XX
4001 Berri