Aladin Borioli (CH, 1988)
Residency period: July 2019
An Intimacy Machine, the piece I am developing during my residency at La Becque, is part of a broader DIY research endeavour called Apian which addresses the ancient inter-species relationship between bees and humans. Following an anthropological approach combined with art and beekeeping, the project gathers together multiple fragments which are both autonomous and related to one another. The machine which was developed at La Becque is inspired by new technology which has gradually infiltrated the world of beekeeping called “electronic monitored hives (E.M.Hs)”. Broadly speaking, an E.M.H. does not refer to a new hive design but to the idea of filling a beehive with multiple sensors – from temperature, scaling, sonic and so on – which track and record bee behaviour in order to help beekeeping become less time-consuming and more efficient. The policy integrated in an E.M.H. has a clearly defined aim, i.e. to make beekeeping more methodical and ultimately reduce the human component. Focusing on sonic data, the Intimacy Machine aims to invert the E.M.H’s integrated policy and transform quantitative data into qualitative data. This hack turns the E.M.H.’s surveillance protocol into an aesthetic one which aims to create a refugium where human beings and bees can meet on more equal terms. Ultimately, this ongoing project will offer a non-human distribution of the sensible. — Aladin Borioli
Aladin Borioli holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Photography from ECAL. He completed his education with studies in Visual and Media Anthropology at the Freie Universität in Berlin, as his interests were closer to the humanities. For several years, he has pursued his research project Apian, exploring the links between apiculture, architecture and science fiction from both artistic and anthropological perspectives. Winner of numerous awards, he has presented his work at Fotopub Festival in Slovenia and at Festival Circulation(s) in Paris.