SECRET is an international exhibition and events programme at Science Gallery Dublin that will explore the social and technological aspects of secrecy, particularly the future of surveillance, espionage and privacy. Why do humans like to keep and reveal secrets and why are we attracted to mysteries and puzzles? When are secrets a good thing and who has the right to keep them? How do emerging technologies protect or undermine privacy? What secrets should never be revealed and where is more transparency needed?
From cryptography, leaks, hidden messages, secret satellites, big data, conspiracy theories, puzzles, easter eggs and cryptocurrencies, SECRET will ask how hackers, spies, journalists, psychologists, criminals, companies and governments are approaching the new world of secrets.
Do you have an artwork that shows secrecy in a new light? Are you designing a device that will change everything from privacy to piracy? Or maybe you research the psychological drive to keep secrets or solve puzzles? We want your exhibit, installation and event ideas.
Topics we're interested in
Surveillance, security, privacy and transparency
Psychology of secrecy, metacognition, development, trust and guilt
Cryptography, ciphers, quantum computing and lockpicking
Hacking, phreaking, computer forensics and urban exploration
Secrecy and privacy as aspects of psychological and personal development
Social networks, online privacy and celebrities
Big data, bioinformatics, and identity theft
Propaganda, government secrets, security
Corporate espionage, trade secrets and cryptocurrencies
Satellites, drones, CCTV cameras
Puzzles, games, mysteries and Easter eggs
What makes a good Science Gallery open call proposal? We are especially looking for projects that match Science Gallery’s three core aims: to Inspire, Connect, Surprise. Some tips for strong proposals:
We love works that invite the visitor to participate, create and discuss.
Great projects bring together art and science in a creative way. We generally avoid paintings about science or science that is evaluating art.
Relevance to our core audience of 15-25 year olds is a factor in curatorial decisions.
Defying categorisation is good. ("It’s kind of a hybrid sculpture, event, installation-puzzle, with a crowd-sourced edible citizen-science archive, plus a performance component that will influence our design for a speculative organism…")
Works can be playful or serious - most themes have room for both.
2D is nice, but 3D is often nicer. We don’t have a lot of wall space for screens, prints and the like, so we often opt for the actual object instead of just a picture of it.
A true connection to the theme is a must - avoid shoehorning an unrelated work.
Collaborations are great! Are you a cryptographer working with a cellist? Maybe you’re a comic book illustrator artist thinking of submitting a proposal with an immunologist? If you’re a marine geologist looking for a cheesemonger to work with, we might know just the person - get in touch!
Budget
We are looking for up to 25 works for the SECRET exhibition. SECRET proposals will be funded up to a maximum budget of €3000 (please note this is a maximum, not a target). Two outstanding original works may be commissioned with a higher budget of up to €8000. Please note that these are maximum amounts, not targets. We are happy to write letters of support for applicants seeking funding from elsewhere.
Confirmed Curators
Tad Hirsch (Creator of TxtMob, and former manager at Intel Labs)
Marie Redmond, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin