What can art do to counter global crises today and in the future? Creatives from all fields are developing tools to prepare for new unexpected emergencies in the face of an increasingly unpredictable present and dwindling resources. In doing so, they have both acute use and more long-term perspectives in mind.

The exhibition »:RETOOL« presents explorative and performative tools with which artists confront the present complexity. It focuses on collective responses to emergency scenarios, such as those we are experiencing worldwide in the form of pandemic outbreaks or the climate crisis.

»: RETOOL« presents artworks that assess the impact of blockchain technology; propose new scenarios of post-human collaboration; investigate the future potential of DNA data storage on an urban level; explore paths to green energy production and water purification; and suggest open source platforms for DIY empowerment of youth.These projects exemplify strategic scenarios for art-science-technology collaboration, where research and hands-on practice converge and seek new forms of resilience and remediation.

The exhibition showcases works by Grow Your Own Cloud, Markus Jeschaunig, Hypercomf, Adriana Knouf, Olga Kisseleva, Studio Lapatsch | Unger & Studio Johanna Schmeer, Unit Lab, Wassim Z. Alsindi & 0x Salon, STATE, as well as a two-day sound installation by Lugh O’Neill at ZKM’s Cube.

This exhibition is part of the triptych »Repairing the Present : REWORLD : REWILD : RETOOL«, a transnational project reflecting on the work of 21 artistic residencies developed within the framework of the European Commission’s initiative S+T+ARTS Regional Centers. The project has received funding from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology under grant agreement LC01641664.

Please also note that parts of the exhibition can be seen in the PanoramaLab.