The exploration of all things dark, hidden and ghostly with the CTM.12 – Spectral theme is garnering a great deal of inspiration from current Nordic artists. 

The field of tension between deeply rooted old regional traditions that reach all the way back to the mythologic and the archaic on the one hand, and today's rationalized high-speed, globe-spanning media culture on the other hand, seems to be a particularly relevant topic for many artists from the Nordic countries. The dialectics between nature, still owning the power to transgress the human realm, and modern, highly organized societies, in which all aspects of daily live are subject to conscious design and regulations, are ongoing themes in many of the works we see emerging from Europe's Nordic countries. These incompatibilities and contradictions, as well as their reconciliations that are times liberating, at times problematic, are crucial questions fathomed both by the artists presented within the Nordic Focus and the CTM.12 themes.

In this spirit, CTM.12 is pleased to present a wide array of Nordic artists currently making waves in their countries and internationally: Catherine Christer Hennix & the Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage (SE/US), Ben Frost with Borgar Magnason and Shazahd Ismaily (IS(US), diskJokke (NO), Hildur Gudnadottir (IS), Jana Winderen (NO), Mika Vainio (FI), and James Brewster (SE). 

Likewise, transmediale 2012 with its theme in/compatible shares this Nordic Focus and features a number of nordic artists and scholars: Goodiepal (DK), Bjørn Erik Haugen (NO), Sture Johannesson (SE), Morten Riis (DK) and Thomas Bjoernsten Kristensen (DK).

Bridging both platforms are the Norwegian avant-jazz-electronic-improvisers Supersilent (NO), who will be performing alongside the legendary Joshua Light Show, and Bengt Sjölén (SE), who will participate both, in the The in/compatible Laboratorium at transmediale 2012 and The Crystal World Open Laboratory at CTM.12.

The presentation of these artists and projects would not be possible without the support of the Nordisk Kulturfond.