bookRoom is an experimental post-digital publishing platform, engaged with critical research, curating, and teaching for over 10 years, through a number of interrelated activities; Phd research, conferences, exhibitions, an artist books collection.

bookRoom has become a significant platform for experimentation, conceptualisation, materialisation, and dissemination of research on the interplay between electronic and print culture (2 anthologies/surveys of writings by key international practitioners and thinkers /the book is alive ! (2012), Code X (2015), one publication on working with archive and art activism / RISE WITH YOUR CLASS (2016) and 9 artists publications by UCA researchers and invited artists.

Postdigital’, ‘Publishing’ and ‘Platform’ are key concepts at the heart of all our projects.

Postdigital, as no longer considering digital technologies emerging or new but already deeply imbedded in our lives and in being human.

Publishing as in making public, sharing, disseminating original thinking and practice based research, in 3 formats; open access online, print form and public events.

Platform as a shared and collaborative network and virtual space for multidisciplinary modes of inquiry and production of new knowledge.

bookRoom has involved members of staff across UCA including: James Trafford (School of Communication Design), Simon Aeppli & Harry Whalley (School of Film, Media & Performing Arts) and Rob Mcdonald (School of Further Education).

 

Gestures of Resistance aims to respond to our current general mood of political anxiety and alienation by opening up socio-political critique in order to resist the palpable feeling of disempowerment. Rather than accepting the non-choice of the neoliberal setup of Greece or current right-wing politics both in America and Europe, the artists of Gestures of Resistance reflect on the current state of our political condition, our current housing situation, the state of education and art, liberalism, diversity and pluralism in this moment of historical crisis, whereby the state of today seems to have strong links to the state of the past.

2017 is a meaningful year, in that it marks the 60th anniversary of the Sputnik Shock, a moment of great significance in the establishment of the Cold War which resulted for many people in a struggle for liberation, political freedom and individual identity. 2016 marked significant political events: on the 23rd June 17.4 million British citizens voted to leave the European Union, killing the UK’s membership of the biggest and most prosperous trading bloc in the world. On the 8th November 2016, Donald Trump was elected the American President and the Republicans retained the Control of Congress and Senate. 27 years earlier, on the night of the 8th November 1989, the Berlin Wall came down.