Abandon Normal Devices

Not only does AND champion a certain notion of experimental art, its very structure aims to upset received notions of what an arts organisation and festival should be.” – Sight and Sound Abandon Normal Devices (AND) is a catalyst for new approaches to art making and digital invention. We commission groundbreaking projects that challenge the definitions of art and moving image. In our work, we bring together an eclectic mix of academics, filmmakers, scientists and anarchists to actively push the boundaries of audience experience and arts production. With a distinct emphasis on creative enquiry and provocations, we create a space where artists can reflect on and play with the impact of new technologies. To achieve this, we invite artists to hijack their imagination and work with them to develop projects which abandon traditional settings and partnerships. The AND portfolio consists of film happenings, exhibitions, performances, online projects, residencies, public realm interventions and a roaming biennial festival. AND was originally founded by national organisations FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), Cornerhouse and folly. AND has commissioned 100 new works and has worked with pioneering and award winning artists, which now amounts to over 300 contemporary artists including Aram Bartholl, Eva and Franco Mattes, the award winning Julian Oliver, Brody Condon, Molleindustria, Ubermorgan, HeHe, Andrew Kötting, Matthew Plummer-Fernandez, Heath Bunting, Oreet Ashery, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Carolee Schneeman, Krzysztof Wodiczko, Gillian Wearing, Phil Collins, Rafael Lozano Hemmer, The Yes Men. Works have toured internationally to Berlin, Shanghai, Italy, and Sydney as well as across the UK.