Please find below a press release from Goldsmiths, University of London for
your attention.

18 February 2008

iPak - 10,000 songs, 10,000 images, 10,000 abuses

A seminal, insightful and interactive science-art work developed by
Goldsmiths academic and artist, Ajaykumar, will be launched on the US-based
global online art gallery www.turbulence.org on 14 March 2008.  The project
has been commissioned by Turbulence and funded by the National Endowment of
the Arts (USA), and will be viewable until 28 February 2010.

'iPak - 10,000 songs, 10,000 images, 10,000 abuses' is a series of three
interconnecting evolving internet art works exploring themes of art as
medicine, mental illness and racism.

'iPak - 10,000 songs, 10,000 images, 10,000 abuses' will display a plethora
of art works by Ajaykumar and other contributing artists. The pieces will
reflect artistic responses to recent scientific research that indicates
that black people are several times more likely than white people to suffer
from mental illness, and that the causes are social rather than genetic.
The research indicates that racism engenders mental illness. In a BBC
interview, one of these researchers, Professor Robin Murray of the
Institute of Psychiatry, stated that the very experience of living in the
United Kingdom almost drives black people mad. With increasing migration
and multiculturalism in many of the world's countries, racism and its
engendering of mental illness is becoming a significant global phenomenon.
Consequently, it is anticipated that the work will also be available in
several languages in the future. Critically, the submitted works will also
explore art as therapy and healing, a way of channelling insight from
madness.

Innovatively, the art works will be displayed in three continually changing
forms – 'chaos,' 'jukebox' and 'platform.' 'chaos' will be a generative
art work, a constantly shifting, random interplay of video, still images,
poetry and music, creating a transforming montage eliciting new meanings,
ideas and emotions. The 'jukebox' component will offer the user playful
interactivity, allowing her/him to choose the sounds and music to accompany
the ever-changing collage. Finally, 'platform' is composed of a gallery to
which anyone can upload their art work and create blogs/forums on the
themes of the project. Art works will also be available as podcasts.

Artists and all individuals are invited to submit material related to the
themes of the project by uploading items onto the 'platform' component.
This material will also be fed into 'chaos' and 'jukebox,' thus continuing
its evolution into a relational art work. The prospective participation of
hundreds of individuals offering their submissions over the next few years
will bring the three art forms fully into being, feeding into a work that
both transforms second by second and evolves over a number of years.

Curator and founder of the project and Lecturer at Goldsmiths, Ajaykumar
says: "The work combines conceptual originality, playfulness, and original
engagement with disturbing cultural and social themes. It explores
possibilities of generative art as re-generative force.""

Notes to Editors: Ajaykumar is an Artsadmin Bursary artist. The research
and development of this project is supported by Artsadmin and the Arts
Council England, and it is also a research project of Goldsmiths,
University of London.

Ajaykumar is a critically acclaimed artist - initially in performance - but
now spanning multiple media, including internet art, installation,
site-specific art, film, video, design, architecture, creative writing,
dance and live art. He lectures on Technology, Art and Philosophy at
Goldsmiths; and he is a member of the Transnational Art, Identity and
Nation (TrAIN) research centre at the University of the Arts, London.

Founded in New York in 1996, www.turbulence.org has commissioned, exhibited
and archived over 150 networked art projects. It is a project of New Radio
and Performing Arts, Inc. (NRPA). For further information contact Jo-Anne
Green: [log in to unmask]

Ajaykumar will be speaking about the project at an event organised by Shape
at SPACE Studios 129 - 131 Mare St, Hackney, London, E8 3RH, on 27 March.
For more information about this event contact Theresa at Shape: Telephone:
020 7 619 6165 Minicom: 020 7619 6161 Fax: 020 7619 6162 Email:
[log in to unmask]

More information is available at www.ajaykumar.com or www.iPak.org.uk
Press images are available on request.

Press enquiries: Tim Hirst, Communications and Publicity, tel 020 7919
7970, e-mail [log in to unmask]


Tim Hirst
Press & PR Officer
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross, London SE14 6NW

t: +44 (0)20 7919 7970
f  +44 (0)20 7919 7975
e: [log in to unmask]
www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/experts