PIFcamp s11 e01: God of Light [Energy Awareness workshop]


//For now, this entry is being edited continuously, adjusting itself to the PIFcraft timetable and following encounters within the community. Current versions are noted in the square brackets at the end of the title.

First PIFcraft log entry will focus on writings, dialogues and participants’ projects which can (for starters, at least) be summed up in the following set: off-grid, low-tech, self-host.

Part 1: Off-grid

//A report will follow on Bernhard Rasinger‘s intro workshop on energy awareness and solar power. One of his PIFprojects is setting up an off-grid solar-powered network for the camp.

Listen to the Energy Awareness workshop jingle ft. Karel Gott & Darinka‘s Fang das Licht:


For the past 11 years, the village of Soča (located in the Triglav National Park) has been providing PIFcampers with infrastructure, space and natural phenomena. Although the week-long communities that form each camp connect with the environment, try their best to take care of it, and generally just immensely appreciate it, there’s no denying that bringing 50+ extra persons (not to mention all of the sound- and light-emitting devices) to a village of 140 inhabitants, is a shock. There are several ways to monitor (and then find ways to diminish) our impact, such as calculating power consumption, understanding which (re)sources the energy is coming from, and setting up off-grid systems that are more in tune with their surroundings.

Bernhard started monitoring PIFcamp’s power consumption last year. Here are some of his findings:


//How can we reduce these? But also: how does that compare with the kilowatt hours we use in our ordinary lives? And what are the experiences of those of us living off-grid?

Next installments:
Part 2: Low-tech
Part 3: Self-host

What we’re reading, researching, listening to:
(re)programming – Strategies for Self-Regeneration (free) | authors: Marta Peirano and guests, edited by: Janez Fakin Janša, published by: Aksioma (Ljubljana, 2022)
Artists Running Data Centers (CC-BY-SA 4.0) | edited by: Davide Bevilacqua, published by: sevus.at (Linz, 2024)
Low-tech Magazine | about the mag
Permacomputing | community
Solar Protocol: Exploring Energy-Centered Design | authors: Tega Brain, Alex Nathanson, Benedetta Piantella (LIMITS ’22, 2022)
A Feminist Server Manifesto (Peer Production License) | about
Distributed Web of Care | about

We’ll continue adding items to the above list as we go. If you have a suggestion, let us know on PIFcamp grounds or send an e-mail to katja[at]ljudmila[dot]org.

How we learned to live with constant rain //PIFriday

Rainy Thursday was followed by a rainy Friday. PIFtopia thankfully avoided the more serious storms, but owing to the extreme conditions in several regions across Slovenia, the decision had to be made to call off the Open Saturday. The wrap-up of PIFcamp was nevertheless breathing down the PIFparticipants’ necks. So, despite the relentless rain, we witnessed the usual Friday levels of diligence.

A usual PIFriday view. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Laurent, whom we have already written about in this year’s PIFlog, decided to start his presentation right after breakfast. He presented his setup, which combines dance and coded music in his performances, to those who hadn’t yet marveled at his (really special!) live coding interface. Free from all PIFproject commitments, he was able to attend workshops, presentations, and jams throughout Friday and Saturday.

Laurent’s interface, designed for Laurent. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Meanwhile, Maya Minder‘s plans to research and produce a bacterial field guide were interrupted by the rainy weather during the week, so she has arranged a presentation of one of her past projects under the canopy – a workshop on making power cells from microbes, which she is developing and running in collaboration with Miranda Moss. Kraut Source Energy is well documented on the Hackteria wiki, where you can also download the instructions for producing energy from various stinky substances like sauerkraut, urine, or mud.

… kind of magic? Maya Minder’s Kraut Source Energy. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Already before lunch, we noticed certain indications that noise would dominate Friday as far as sound is concerned. Dan Xu invited the PIFlars to build kraakdoos, noise-making experimental instruments developed by Michel Waisvisz in the 1970s at Amsterdam’s STEIM, under the slogan “Let’s make some noizzzeee”.

Build your own kraakdoos! Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

The crackle box, as the name of this simple instrument translates from Dutch, is played simply by touching it, which neatly connects Dana’s workshop with the activity that was (still) going on under the tent in the meantime. Participants in Rob’s workshop continued to build instruments from the Networked Touch series. More on this in the report from Saturday’s events.

Alicia’s touch instrument. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

After a spot-on lunch (fish and potato salad), a few of the curious gathered for Nejc‘s presentation on creating animations with artificial intelligence. Nejc presented his practice and shared a number of other interesting facts, such as his fascination with solar punk, while also briefing the audience on his project in progress, a short experimental generative animated film with the working title First We Must Listen to the Trees, in which he explores social situations in relation to the environment and the ecosystem, as well as coexistent and sustainable ways of living.

Natura morta titled Friday Lunch among the Nettles. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt
Nejc presenting his practice of creating animations in collaboration with AI. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Before it got dark in the PIFcamp, we enjoyed two more artist talks on the terrace: first, the audience was entertained by Jani Pirnat, who is a curator at Ljubljana’s Vžigalica Gallery outside of PIFtopia, and also one of our favourite Slovenian contemporary artists at our week-long gatherings in Soča. Jani presented his two previous PIFprojects, Peasant Resistance and Rock’n’roll. While the former tasted internet fame for a few days, the latter – a cement mixer transformed into a disco ball with a rolling stone inside – only amused PIFlars so far. But judging by the audience’s reaction, it is likely that it will also be presented to an outside public soon.

Jani during his presentation of two of the PIFproject goldies. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Next, Michael Candy, this year’s PIFresident, presented previous projects and delighted the audience with infectious joy for building robots and stories from previous artistic residencies. We caught a video of Ether Antenna, a work created during a residency at the Robotics Association of Nepal (RAN). This narrative short film, beautifully edited to music by Pauline Anne Strom, is based on Buddhist tales, with robots, of course, performing all parts. Ah, yes, and there’s a PIFlog recommendation, too: if you’re in Ljubljana in September, don’t miss Michael’s installation as part of the autumn extension of the Lighting Guerrilla festival.

Michael with one of his robots. A more basic version of one of the performers in his film. Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt

Friday night was spent mostly draining the canopies and tent wings, but of course not without additional soundscapes that complemented and occasionally overpowered the raindrops – from the noise jams to the terrace party, there’s room for everyone at PIFtopia.

Photo: Katja Goljat, Matjaž Rušt