The Significance of Rituals in the Era of AI, War and Climate Crisis
An innovative combination of technology and spirituality
Exhibition at the HEK (Haus der Elektronischen Künste) in Basel: 9 May to 9 August 2026
Human beings have always been preoccupied with rituals. Devising such rituals and finding support in them or creating identity through them is an eminently human practice. Against the backdrop of the current state of the world, philosophers such as Byung-Chul Han claim that “We need new rituals.”, because sharing the symbolic through rituals has the power to unite the members of a community. What new rituals are emerging currently, in a period of time when AI, climate crisis and war are creating an atmosphere of apocalypse? What role does technology play? Which rituals have emancipatory and which oppressive potential? Will robots also have rituals at some point? The publication presents current artistic positions dealing with such issues and further proffers guidance for carrying out one’s own rituals.
Edited by HEK (Haus der Elektronischen Künste), Sabine Himmelsbach, Marlene Wenger.
With contributions by Anan Fries, Jenny Stümer, Audrey Tang, Marlene Wenger, Günseli Yalsinkaya, among others.
June 2026, 208 pages, 83 mainly colour illustrations, softcover, 17 x 23,5 cm, German/English
ISBN 978-3-03969-063-3
