While cruising into Linz I was fascinated by the lighted buildings displays near where we docked - the screens of Ars Electronica and light display of Lentos Kunstmuseum. While the bulk of the cruise headed via bus to Salzburg for the day, or to the small Austrian towns of Steyr and Gmunden, I opted to stay and amuse myself in Linz. We were docked adjacent to one of the main squares in the old town, so only a five minute walk to the tourist information where I picked up a Linz Card for one day free access to the city transport systems and admission to key museums and tourist attractions.
A quick bus ride took me across the bridge to the ARS Electronica Center - the digital museum of the future. I had a hard time pulling myself out of the place as it is full of displays on the cutting edge of computer technology and applications in art, technology and social enterprise. I started in the Deep-Space room watching a couple of short animation pieces and then a beautiful short film (done by a Canadian) that had won the animation award during their annual festival the previous year. The guide encouraged me to return for the English deep-space show in an hour, and what a 3D treat it was as the room is extremely hi-tech, with multiple projections in super high definition, plus you can walk around in the images (almost like the holodeck on sci-fi programs) as we were taken by light speed through our universe and beyond. While based on strong foundations of science the film did have points where they had to imagine and created some really beautiful images (ie. convergence of multiple universes to the origin of our universe and others).
The research directions for computer technology, from robotic animals-pets that react to human interaction, to voice recognition technology that displays the emotion of the speaker on a robotic dummy face, giving more human interaction to skype type communication in the future. Robotics also figured heavily in advances to support the human body, hands, legs, eyes, hearts...And then there was the research on the concept of you dream it and the computer will design and deliver it via three dimensional printer. They have managed to deliver plastic product (dress and bowl). The theory is that eventually you can go on your computer and shop for your clothes and food and the printer would then just print it out. Sounds like a sci-fi replicator becoming reality. They also have the pixel city...a room where kids can build with big lego-type blocks their own city buildings...and more interactive displays that make it a very family friendly place.
The building is wrapped in screens, where each night the light show is on-going. It looks especially beautiful reflecting on the water.
Hunger finally sent me back to the main square, where I enjoyed a little Greek spanakopita with tsitsiki and a caffe latte while listening to three gypsy musicians - clarinet, guitar and bass. Next stop was the little train for the Linz sightseeing tour, around the new city hall, down old alleys, past churches old and new, historical buildings including Mozart house, where he once stayed for a time and thanked his host by writing an opera highlighting the city.
I then headed back to the ship to freshen up, have afternoon tea before heading over to the Lentos Kunstmuseum. The featured exhibition was Do What? Art Povera - with instillation pieces representing the movement from 1967 to 1972. It utilizes everyday things and materials, supposedly making them worthy as art - coal and plastic, plants and textiles, fire and ice - one of those art forms I have yet to appreciate. The other displays in the museum where more to my aesthetic and I especially liked MaoTseTung by Andy Warhol and the comedy of Gerhard Haderer (ie. group of hysterically laughing priests).
Somehow the day had evaporated and it was time to head back to the ship for dinner...and the evenings live entertainment a little jazz by the musical group "New Ohr Linz Dixie".
No comments:
Post a Comment