Joanna Lalowska is an architect, artist, and researcher navigates spatial concepts through a three-dimensional language that employs scholar work, merging academic metodology, emotional narratives and tactile rituals. Presently engaged as a researcher at the Royal College of Art in London, her expertise spans multifaceted spatial design, consulting, and design strategy. Her dedication extends to socially engaged projects, policy making and ecological movements.
Her pursuits extend beyond conventional research, delving into colonial matters and activism, aiming to unravel historical complexities while advocating for social justice. Through her work, she endeavors to illuminate overlooked narratives, foster inclusive spaces, and drive activism for a more equitable and ecologically aware future. Working across range of media and modes of address, drawing curatorial and institutional scenarios, she questions the given strategies and tactics in the context of design and technology while searching for its meaning and testing the limits of art’s agency. In her recent works she focuses on the subject of class hegemony and has explores apparatuses of control and sovereignty at work in contemporary art. She often works with others.
Website and links: www.joannalalowska.com
Project:
Exploring Ethical Dimensions of Algorithms through Comparative Analysis of Ancient Divination Practices
This research proposal aims to undertake a comprehensive exploration of the ethical implications ingrained in algorithms. It aspires to provide a nuanced understanding by juxtaposing modern computational practices with ancient divination rituals, discerning the ethical dimensions that underpin decision-making processes across historical epochs. Luciano Floridi's foundational work in information ethics will serve as a guiding theoretical framework, offering a lens to delineate the ethical complexities inherent in contemporary algorithms. Floridi's ethical framework treats information as a fundamental component of reality, focusing on the ethical aspects of informational entities, processes, and their interactions.Concurrently, the research will delve into an in-depth study of ancient divination practices prevalent across various civilizations, exploring tribal ritualistic practices in Eastern Europe and their convergence with other cultures that influenced this region ie. Germanic, Baltic, and Finno-Ugric etc. These diverse practices were steeped in rituals, symbolism, and interpretive methods, seeking guidance from supernatural forces or natural phenomena to aid decision-making processes. In Eastern Europe, divination rituals were deeply rooted in cultural practices, encompassing methods such as scrying, interpreting natural signs, and consulting oracles. For instance, ancient Slavic cultures engaged in rituals involving natural elements, interpreting the behavior of animals, patterns in natural occurrences, and celestial events to make informed decisions.
The artistic research aims to investigate the evolving ethical landscape influenced by the integration of algorithms across various societal domains. It will critically analyze algorithmic decision-making within governance aiming to discern how algorithms shape cultural values, societal norms, and power structures. This thorough exploration endeavors to unravel the intricate ethical fabric woven into contemporary algorithmic systems, elucidating their impact on diverse facets of human existence, inquiring how can we learn and derive from indigenous practices to support modern society.
In conclusion, this interdisciplinary research endeavor seeks to unravel the ethical dimensions of algorithms by embedding them within the broader historical tapestry of human information processing. By blending innovative artistic interpretations with rigorous scholarly investigation, the research aims to enrich the discourse on algorithm ethics. It aims to accentuate the significance of responsible information processing and ethical decision-making paradigms, drawing parallels between ancient wisdom and modern computational practices. This artistic work aspires to contribute profound insights to ethical considerations in algorithmic design and implementation, fostering a deeper understanding of the ethical implications inherent in the evolution of information processing practices across civilizations.