Experimental AI, Art&amp;Play Performances: Hybrid Ludic Assemblages.
Authors: Jahrmann Margarete 
Published: August 2023

The concept of assemblage allows the connection of art, scientific approaches, and socially relevant action — in a new and vibrant form of performances in play. Such performative hybrid ludic assemblages are prototypes of Experimental Game Cultures. This coinage of a new terminology in the connection of play and public performance allows a focus on the conscious change of established dynamics of (capitalist) world - in playful arrangements between human and non-human actants. The goal in Ludic Art performances is a critical reflection on the social impact of games in life and at the same time the prototypical development of innovative forms of performative arts, through the application of game In the following Ludic examples, we see that the experimental performances in games can make a significant contribution to how we deal with the complex problems of the world, because their mechanics comprise us as emotional beings and help to foster affectively participating and sharing societies.First the state of the art of play is revisited, then why we play, how we play and the possible future of play: empathy and alternative Ludic mechanics are addressed. Finally art is described as game mechanics itself and art games, exemplary works and approaches, protoypes of art games installations by the Experimental Games Cultures lab Vienna are introduced,Artistic performative play is the experimental testing and subjective experience of alternative possibilities of the world. Performance play as a participatory process can show us ways to positive change, new forms of future society, politics, and empathic coexistence. Through the conscious breaking of rules, the transformation of rule systems through the act of performing in play, the acceptance of ambiguity as a quality in play, a new understanding for the global challenges of our time can emerge. In the contemporary discourse on the most burning issues and global challenges I refer with my research concern to concepts of the Ludic and New Materialism , that is, transversal thinking and free play as a method to deal with problems of social and climate change. To this end, the discussed performance games are oriented towards theories of entanglement of matter and meaning (e.g., Karen Barad, 2010), which we aim to couple with cognitive empathy research in experimental game culture and “ludic society” arrangements. Another contemporary concept that can be taken up here as a cooperative ludic mechanic is inspired by Jane Bennet's reflections (2020): In the assemblage of "actants" of animate and non-animate, human, and non-human matter, transversal thinking is made possible. In experimental game cultures, transferred into Ludic performance environments, small causes can be triggered as a contribution to ecologically compatible ways of living.The Expanded narration of vibrant matter and play allows a new and emerging genre of “performance” – between science and art. In such artistic play the experimental testing and subjective experience of possibilities of the world is in the center of art pieces and artistic research. Finally, the Ludic as a participatory process can show us new forms of future society, politics, and empathy. By transforming systems of rules, ambiguity as a quality in play, a new understanding of the global challenges of our time can emerge.