Cultural Fermentation & Other Messy Practices of Illegibility

Cultural Fermentation & Other Messy Practices of Illegibility - Saturday, May 02, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Onsite Gallery, 199 Richmond Street West, Toronto

What can you see that algorithms can’t? In an era shaped by constant surveillance and predictive technologies, this immersive day-long gathering invites you to participate in collaborative experiments with human and machine vision. Together, we will question bias, visibility, and what remains unseen by algorithms, while cultivating new ways of seeing that embrace complexity, irregularity, and the generative power of the unpredictable.

No technical experience required—just bring your curiosity and your body.

The symposium is co-presented with UKAI Projects.

Registration is limited. Visit Registration Page

About the Facilitators

Luisa Ji is a creative strategist and cultural technologist working at the intersection of public imagination, digital transformation, and systems of care. With over a decade of global experience, she leads participatory programs that use storytelling, worldbuilding, and culturally-specific technological adaptations to help institutions navigate cultural and ecological volatility. As Studio Director at UKAI Projects, Luisa has delivered initiatives across Canada, South Korea, Iceland, Taiwan, and the UK, supporting artists and arts organizations in transforming their practices. Her background spans civic experience design, AI literacy, and cultural infrastructure, with speaking and workshop credits at SÍM Residency (Reykjavik, Iceland), Watershed (Bristol, UK), msdm (London, UK), MUTEK Montreal (CA), Société des arts technologiques (CA), and Milieux Institute (CA). She is a program co-lead of the Cultural Technologies Lab, a community of arts and cultural workers that leverages culture as vital technology for regeneration and societal transformation.

Benjamin Lappalainen is a Toronto-based creative technologist, educator, and multidisciplinary artist. He creates interactive installations that incorporate computer vision, AI, and algorithmic processes, with work exhibited at InterAccess, Northern Contemporary Gallery, and Long Winter Arts & Music Festival. His educational practice includes leading workshops and mentorship programs that bridge technical skill-building with experimental arts practices. As XR Development Lead with UKAI Projects, Benjamin collaborates with artists and organizations to execute research, exhibitions, immersive and interactive installations, publishing, and workshops. UKAI Projects imagines and produces "culture for what's coming", most recently working with the Accton Arts Foundation in Hsinchu, Taiwan for research into arts policy, delivering workshops and immersive experiences, and cultural exchange. Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto. His current research focuses on developing open source software for creative coding and interactive media, creating accessible tools that support artist communities in realizing technically ambitious projects.

Becoming (in the light of the miracle) is generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario through the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse program. 

Onsite Gallery is generously supported by The Delaney Family.