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Series: Art in Conflict

«Hijacked Information»
artasfoundation

Talk

Artistic practice in crisis regions face particular challenges. In this series of talks, a variety of people from the worlds of art and culture share their experiences. This time, our guests are !Mediengruppe Bitnik and the academic Karena Avedissian. They will be discussing the targeted manipulation of information on the internet, propaganda, and artistic strategies for bringing these issues to light.

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  • Wed 09/1217:30–19:00

    Stall6

    Free admission

Narratives, Power and Manipulation: A conversation about digital influence and artistic resistance. Image credit: !Mediengruppe Bitnik, ‘Computer Says No’, installation view, Kunsthalle Osnabrück, 2025. Copyright: Lucie Marsmann
  • Spoken English
  • Steplessly accessible
  • Hybrid event

How is information deliberately controlled, distorted, and exploited? What strategies of digital influence are used, from social media campaigns and automated bots to data-driven propaganda surrounding elections, war, or systematic violence against civilians?

Based on the 2023 displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh as a case study, the conversation explores how narratives are hijacked to suppress understanding and thereby also resistance and collective action. Drawing on !Mediengruppe Bitnik’s artistic interventions, ranging from hijacking surveillance systems to producing “unreal data,” we discuss how artistic and activist practices can subvert these mechanisms of control.

Further information on the two artists from the !Mediengruppe Bitnik, who work with and on the internet as a medium: https://wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.bitnik.org/

More information on Karena Avedissian, whose research focuses on disinformation, security and social movements in Eurasia: https://www.karenaavedissian.com/

!Mediengruppe Bitnik will be present on site, and Karena Avedissian will join online.

Spontaneous participation on site is possible at any time. Participation via Zoom is also possible with prior registration via this link.

Accessibility information

  • Step-free access

  • In spoken English

The event ‘Art in Conflict’ is part of a monthly discussion series that is organised by artasfoundation in cooperation with Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK, through their joint initiative CAP. The events are held at Gessnerallee and will be broadcast live to the media library of the Academy of Art and Design Basel, Freilager-Platz 1, Münchenstein, 8th floor

  • Art in Conflict is a series of discussions.

    There is a discussion every month. 

    Experts talk about art projects in countries affected by war.


    Everyone is welcome to listen or join in the discussion.

    You can take part at the theatre.

    Or you can take part from home via the internet.

    Admission is free.

    This discussion features the !Mediengruppe Bitnik and Karena Avedissian.

    The !Mediengruppe Bitnik is an artist duo.

    That means: two artists create art together.

    They use the internet for their art.

    They will be there in person.

    Karena Avedissian will join via video link.

    Karena Avedissian is a researcher.

    She conducts research on disinformation and security.

    Disinformation means: false information is being spread.

    The discussion will focus on the following questions:

    • How is information controlled or altered on the internet?

    • How can information influence people?

    • How can art and research demonstrate how this happens?

  • What can art achieve in regions affected by crisis? How do artists engage in fostering human connections and peaceful conflict transformation, and what are the indispensable conditions for this?
    The ‘Art in Conflict’ discussion series explores fundamental questions of international peacebuilding through dialogues with practitioners and scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. In informal conversations – usually featuring two guests – various aspects of this work are discussed, drawing on both practical experiences and theoretical reflections. The discussions are moderated by the team of artasfoundation, the Swiss foundation for art in conflict regions, which has been initiating and organising art projects since 2012.

    The series is presented in partnership with the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), the Mediathek of HGK Basel, and Theater Gessnerallee Zürich.

Drawing: Anna and Vitalii Cherepanovy

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