!Mediengruppe Bitnik (read - the not mediengruppe bitnik) live and work
in Zurich/London. They are contemporary artists working on and with the
Internet. Their practice expands from the digital to affect physical
spaces, often intentionally applying loss of control to challenge
established structures and mechanisms. !Mediengruppe Bitniks works
formulate fundamental questions concerning contemporary issues.
In early 2013 !Mediengruppe Bitnik sent a parcel to WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy. The parcel contained a camera
which broadcast its journey through the postal system live on the
internet. They describe «Delivery for Mr. Assange» as a SYSTEM_TEST and
a Live Mail Art Piece.
They have also been known for sending a bot
called «Random Darknet Shopper» on a three-month shopping spree in the
Darknets where it randomly bought objects like Ecstasy and had them sent
directly to the gallery space.
!Mediengruppe Bitnik are the artists Carmen Weisskopf and Domagoj
Smoljo. Their accomplices are the London filmmaker and researcher Adnan
Hadzi and the reporter Daniel Ryser.
Their works have been shown internationally including:
Shanghai Minsheng 21st Century Museum, City Art Gallery Ljubljana,
Kunsthaus Zürich, NiMk Amsterdam, Space Gallery London, Cabaret Voltaire
Zurich, Beton7 Athens, Museum Folkwang Essen, Contemporary Art Center
Vilnius, Beijing «Get it louder» Contemporary Art Biennial, La Gaîté Lyrique Paris, Gallery EDEN 343 São Paulo and the
Roaming Biennale Teheran.
They have received awards including:
Swiss Art Award, Migros New Media Jubilee Award, Honorary Mention Prix Ars Electronica