Booth 12 x NOISE Media Art Fair, Vienna
Vedica Art Studios and Gallery
20 days left
The 2nd Noise Media Art Fair (September 12-15) transformed Vienna’s historic Palais Festetics into a dynamic nexus for experimental media art. With a diverse showcase of installations, digital art, and live music, the fair offered an immersive exploration of technology and art in a venue that bridged classical elegance with industrial modernity.
“Art evolves at the speed of technology.”
The Noise Media Art Fair brought together 12 galleries from five countries, presenting over 100 innovative artworks. Set in the opulent yet contrasting spaces of Palais Festetics, the event highlighted the evolving intersection of media art and technology. Highlights included interactive installations, groundbreaking digital works, and discussions on techno-equality. A vibrant program of music and workshops further enriched the fair, establishing it as a global platform for media art experimentation.
The fair unfolds
The fair unfolded across two distinct floors of Palais Festetics: one adorned with grand chandeliers and gilded walls, the other stark and industrial, with exposed cement. This aesthetic juxtaposition mirrored the thematic exploration of harmony and contrast that underpinned the showcased works. The accompanying music program spanned three nights, featuring experimental electronic performances. This multi-sensory experience echoed the fair’s commitment to both auditory and visual art.
Music Section at NOISE Media Art Fair, Palais Festetics, Vienna
Booth 12: Vedica Art Studios and Gallery
Vedica Art Gallery’s booth captivated audiences with Joseph O’ Connell’s interactive pieces, Barbara Rachko’s cinematic pastels, and Boba Mende’s multidisciplinary approach. The interplay of technology and traditional media defined their collective contributions.
Booth 12: Vedica Art Gallery, NOISE Media Art Fair, Palais Festetics, Vienna.
The gallery presented an impressive roster of visiting artists whose works resonated with themes of sensory immersion, narrative storytelling, and cross-disciplinary exploration. Depot work by visiting artists Arie Otten, Colette Leinman and Carola Kastman was also included.
Arie Otten with the artwork: The Blue Dog with the Red Balls and the Green Tail, 2023.
Joseph O'Connell: Multiple Selves stole the show
Joseph O’Connell captivated audiences with his innovative and interactive glass sculptures at the Vedica Art Gallery booth. The centerpiece, Multiple Selves, a suspended fusion of glass spheres weighing 120 kilograms, allowed visitors to physically step inside and experience a kaleidoscopic inversion of their surroundings. This sensory distortion created a fractured yet mesmerizing interplay of light and space.
Joseph O'Connell at NOISE Media Art Fair
The work's optical manipulation sparked diverse reactions, with some visitors returning for multiple encounters while others felt disoriented. Complementing this were two smaller works, Chromanova and Synchrony, which utilized dichroic glass technology to explore themes of celestial alignment and dynamic interplay. Together, these installations highlighted O’Connell's mastery of fusing art and technology to create immersive experiences.
Close-up: Chromanova, 2023. Brass, dichroic acrylic - 22 × 23 × 22 in.
Barbara Rachko: True Grit
Barbara Rachko’s contributions to the fair highlighted her cinematic approach to soft pastel painting, offering a vibrant contrast to the industrial and digital surroundings. Her works, displayed digitally and through portfolio consultations, drew parallels to Degas’ observational precision, merging narrative stills with striking close-up compositions of her still-life “actors.”
Barbara Rachko's True Grit, short documentary film in play during the fair.
An excerpt from her award-winning short film about her life and career enriched the presentation, available to viewers via QR code. Rachko’s extensive media presence, including her blog and YouTube channel, attests to her influence as an artist who seamlessly integrates technology into her practice. Her vivid and colorful works were a testament to her ability to convey emotional depth and narrative richness, resonating deeply with the audience.
Barbra Drizin with Siddhant Khattri, Barbara Rachko's True Grit in play
Bôba Mènde: connecting ancient technology with the advanced
Bôba Mende’s multidisciplinary presentation at the fair embodied Laurie Anderson’s sentiment, “Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories.” His contributions ranged from Docutopia, an evolving online networking platform fostering global collaboration, to a series of wooden sculptures symbolizing nature’s timeless communication. Docutopia invites users to create virtual “campfires” for community projects, aiming to redefine engagement and currency through a tailored point system.
View of Boba Mende’s works: Docutopia and Wooden Installations
In stark contrast, his found wooden objects underscored the primal connection between humanity and nature, reminding viewers of the elemental origins of communication. Mende’s dual exploration of cutting-edge technology and organic forms offered a thought-provoking narrative of coexistence and creativity.
Bôba Mènde, Good connection antenna, Wood, metal stick, wooden branch, 2017 - 32 x 74 x 40 cm
Visitors at the fair
From real estate developers to cognitive psychologists, attendees represented a cross-section of industries, fostering rich dialogues about the future of art, technology, and society. This interdisciplinary exchange solidified the fair as a thought-provoking and collaborative event. Vienna’s vibrant cultural backdrop enriched the experience. Iconic landmarks like the Albertina Museum and the Vienna Secession building provided a historical counterpoint to the fair’s forward-looking focus.
Booth 12, enthusiasts interacting with Synchrony: a work by Joseph O'Connell
