Iyo Bisseck is at the intersection of technology and creativity, redefining digital landscapes and challenging the exclusionary narratives that have marginalized diverse voices. As an interaction designer, programmer, and artist, Bisseck exemplifies technology’s potential as both an artistic medium and a vehicle for social change. While the tech industry has historically reinforced colonial and patriarchal structures, Bisseck actively reshapes these spaces through immersive digital environments, interactive storytelling, and AI, showcasing how technology can promote justice and community care.
In January 2023, Iyo Bisseck delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled *AI, Can You See Me?* at Campus Fonderie de l’image in Montreuil, France. Following this, in April 2024, Bisseck will facilitate a workshop called *Raising Archives Collectively* at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam.
Additionally, the Embodied Restoration Lab, curated by Afaina de Jong, will take place on April 18 and 19, 2024, at the same venue. This symposium, organized by AFARAI, aims to explore the intersection of architecture, ecology, and algorithmic systems design, focusing on developing new tools to address contemporary ecological and social challenges. It will gather a diverse group of scholars, architects, designers, climate justice activists, artists, and data scientists to engage in collaborative knowledge exchange through workshops and public reflections. On April 19, three roundtable discussions will be open to the public, moderated by Ramon Amaro (@shrtfilm) in the _1 Lab @minus1nieuweinstituut, with recordings made available as an audio series supported by the Rearc Institute.
Currently, Bisseck is engaged in a residency titled *Decolonize Generative AI: A Dialogue Between Artists and Researchers* at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, running from October to December 2024. Following this residency, their work will be featured in the *Wilderness Garden* exhibition at Salon FIFTITU% in Linz, Austria, in September 2024.
Bisiyo’s profile features images from the 2023 project Oasis dot wet, which is a radical hydro- and cyber-feminist initiative. This endeavor explores the transformation of bodily fluids into virtual ecologies, emphasizing the fluid nature of stories and emotions that traverse our bodies. The project’s dramaturgy is led by Yannick Böhme, with sound design by Elio Icaza. Curated by Clara Hermann and Nataša Vukajlovic, the work includes contributions from artists Petja Ivanova, Iyo Bisseck, Rain Rose, and Kaya Zakrzewska, with photography by Peter Oliver Wolff.
Oasis dot wet was part of the exhibition Broken Machines & Wild Imaginings at the Akademie der Künste, showcasing new installations by JUNGE AKADEMIE fellows. This exhibition focuses on artistic research that interrogates artificial intelligence, prioritizing social, historical, cultural, and political contexts over mere technological advancements. The artists critique the extractive logic of machines, algorithmic violence, and techno-solutionism by crafting poetic worlds and playful concepts that propose alternative narratives and paradigms. Key themes include the historical significance of deep-sea cables, Indigenous technologies, AI human models, queer and decolonial computing, and the implications of digital immortality.
For artists like Bisseck, the digital landscape presents a dual opportunity: a site for exploration and a platform for resistance. Their projects critique the materiality of digital spaces, interrogating the lingering presence of colonial structures within them. By focusing on archiving and preserving diasporic narratives, Bisseck challenges the erasure of diverse histories within mainstream digital cultures.
In workshops and exhibitions such as “Raising Archives Collectively” and “Decolonize Generative AI,” Bisseck explores the radical potential of collective memory and community-driven archiving. These initiatives disrupt the normative frameworks of data and digital histories, showcasing how technology can uplift marginalized narratives rather than commodifying them.
Innovators like Iyo Bisseck disrupt the tech industry by advocating for technology that prioritizes social justice and equity over profit. Through collectives like Dreaming Beyond AI, they challenge biases within AI and digital infrastructure, questioning who benefits from technology and envisioning a decolonized tech future. Bisseck’s work emphasizes the importance of using technology for empowerment and liberation, aiming to radically transform existing structures to promote collective well-being rather than simply assimilating into them.
In a tech landscape often characterized by individualism and competition, the focus on community and care is crucial. Collectives like Matri-Archi (tecture) create digital spaces that support marginalized identities, emphasizing nurturing environments that promote care over exploitation. Bisseck’s initiatives, such as “What Does it Mean to Build Within Walls We Dream of Abolishing?” advocate for reimagining technology engagement to prioritize collective futures. By prioritizing community-driven projects, Bisseck argues that the digital future should move away from harmful past systems and instead embrace care, sustainability, and equity.
Artists like Iyo Bisseck are redefining the digital landscape by challenging the conventional structure of technology. Their work integrates artistry, programming, and critical inquiry to create inclusive digital experiences, reclaiming technology as a space for empowerment and growth. In a time when the digital realm profoundly impacts our lives, the leadership of diverse voices is crucial. These artists are not just participants; they are architects of equitable digital futures, demonstrating that technology can foster care and justice while promoting a rich tapestry of perspectives.
