Program / TRACING ARTISTIC PRESENCE
ROBOEXOTICA
Free admission
“ROBOEXOTICA,“ a globally unique festival that has brought together art, technology, and humor in a distinctive way since 1999, was first held at the MuseumsQuartier Wien in 2002. On the occasion of the MQ’s 25th anniversary, the international art-technology-philosophy collective monochrom is bringing “ROBOEXOTICA“ back to the MQ exhibition spaces for one evening, joining the birthday celebrations with its machines.
At the center of the festival are machines that do more than simply function — they surprise. Robots mix cocktails, serve drinks, and interact with people in unexpected ways. Over the years, “ROBOEXOTICA“ has evolved into an international meeting point for artists, developers, scientists, and theorists, as well as an important platform for experimental, critical, and playful engagements with technology. “ROBOEXOTICA“ is therefore the longest-running festival dedicated to media art, digital art, and digital culture in Vienna.
What makes “ROBOEXOTICA“ special is its deliberate counterpoint to conventional narratives of technology. Instead of prioritizing efficiency, control, and perfection, the festival foregrounds creativity, ambiguity, humor, and even failure. The machines of “ROBOEXOTICA“ are not perfect tools — they are eccentric actors that raise questions: How do we want to live with technology? What happens when machines do not behave as we expect them to?
The following robots will be presented as part of the exhibition parcours on June 10 and will, among other things, mix cocktails for visitors:
Amalettomat 2.0
Zwax
The Amalettomat is known for its original combination of robotics and culinary art, attracting both technology enthusiasts and food lovers alike. The machine demonstrates impressively how automation and creativity can come together to transform everyday tasks — such as making pancakes — into an entertaining experience.
Pissed Off
Christian Schüler
Combining technical precision, subversive humor, and a touch of destructive satisfaction, this device transforms everyday frustration into an almost performative act. Somewhere between absurd machine and ironic artwork, it plays with our secret fantasies of revenge against the small annoyances of daily life that regularly drive us mad — while mixing the perfect screwdriver cocktail.
Spaß mit Maß 3.0
Reinhard Sprung
The latest invention in the world of drinking games centered around precision, self-control, and controlled loss of control. Spaß mit Maß not only tells you when and how much to drink — the system even rewards you for respecting your limits.
monochrom
MQ Showrooms
