Spectacular Experiments in the Temporary Temple of the New Genius

Spectacular Experiments in the Temporary Temple of the New Genius is a series of experimental participatory rituals developed within an adaptive performative environment created for Kazakhstan’s first national pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale.

Due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the works intended for the pavilion did not arrive in time for the opening week, making it impossible to present the originally conceived Centre for the New Genius. To address this situation, ORTA applied the Method of Composition, ultimately producing an alternative work—the Temporary Temple of the New Genius—an immersive environment of a distinct kind. The Temporary Temple operated throughout the opening week of the Biennale and was later replaced by the original installation once the shipment arrived.

Within this space, ORTA conducted interactive performative events titled Spectacular Experiments, presented twice daily throughout the opening week. These participatory rituals were designed to activate the Inner Genius of visitors and to generate experiential data, later integrated into the ongoing development of the Centre for the New Genius. In particular, the experiments led to the discovery of entities referred to as Genions.

Produced by ORTA.

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