Work 2.0 – Creative production in a digital world

While human labour in manufacturing continues to decrease, intellectual work is on the rise - and with it, the significance of standards concerning intellectual property rights. The production of artistic works, in particular, is increasingly faced with questions regarding copyrights, for which there are clearly no simple answers. In response to this problem, the Berlin-based mikro e.V. established the successful Internet platform "iRights.info" which enabled a large number of artists to participate in the discussion about copyrights. This Internet site will now include the project "Work 2.0", a place where art and law come in contact. The project offers both journalistic information as well as a moderated forum for discussion. Together with iRights.info, the HMKV examined the relationship between creative work, copyright issues and technology.

A large-scale international media-art exhibition titled "Anna Kournikova Deleted By Memeright Trusted System - Art in the Age of Intellectual Property" examined what happens to art and music which appropriates, samples and refers to existing works governed by copyright and immaterial property laws that increasingly protect exclusive rights of usage over public rights of usage.
The exhibition, displayed at the 2,200 sq.m PHOENIX Halle in Dortmund-Hörde on the grounds of the former Phoenix-West steelworks factory, presented contemporary artworks from the fields of concept, network and software art, and films that both thoughtfully and playfully examined the collision of technological development, network and rights monitoring and cultural work.

Participants:
AGENTUR/AGENCY (BE), Daniel Garcia Andújar (ES), Walter Benjamin (US), Pierre Bismuth (FR), Christian von Borries (DE), Christophe Bruno (FR), Claire Chanel & Scary Sherman (US), Lloyd Dunn (US/CZ), Electroboutique (Alexei Shulgin & Aristarkh Chernyshev) (RU), Fred Fröhlich (DE), Nate Harrison (US), John Heartfield (DE), Michael Iber (DE), Laibach/Novi kolektivizem (SI), likefashion.com (CN), Sebastian Lütgert (DE), Kembrew McLeod (US), Monochrom (AT), Negativland and Tim Maloney (US), Der Plan (DE), Ramon & Pedro (CH), David Rice (US), Ines Schaber (DE), Cornelia Sollfrank (DE), Stay Free (US), Jason Torchinsky (US), UBERMORGEN.COM & Alessandro Ludovico & Paolo Cirio (CH/AT/IT), etc.

The exhibition, curated by Inke Arns and Francis Hunger, was accompanied by a conference based on the theme "Creative Work and Copyrights".

Artistic directors: Dr. Inke Arns, Dr. Volker Grassmuck

Venue: PHOENIX Halle Dortmund

Schedule: September - October 2008 (exhibition)