Calculating Empires: A Genealogy of Technology and Power, 1500-2025
This large-scale visual manifesto explores the relationship between technology and power over five centuries. The 24-meter-wide work examines both the evolution of communication technologies and the rise of control mechanisms. It traces the development of devices, algorithms, and power systems such as education, policing, and military structures.
The work reveals how technology and power structures are deeply intertwined, from the rise of European colonialism in the 1500s to contemporary tech empires. This installation invites visitors to reflect on how imperial structures still work in contemporary technologies and how they can be unwound. Fun fact: Prof. Kate Crawford received an honorary doctorate from the University of Groningen in 2024.
