Transparent
We are delighted to announce our three chosen artists for Transparent – Sam Bonser, Millad Khonsorkh and Isolda Milenkovic. Transparent is a development programme for early career animation artists, and is a collaboration between Animate Projects and the Open Data Institute (ODI). The three artists will be inspired by conversations with researchers from the ODI and will create short, animated films responding to the idea of transparency in relation to our data.
Animate will work with our partners, the ODI through its Data as Culture art programme, and audio post production studio, Fonic, to support the artists to produce three exciting artists’ animations. The films will be widely shared in 2027.
Transparent is the fourth round of Animate’s early career development programme that is supported by Arts Council England.
Image credit: Constant Washing Machine by Blast Theory, launch event. Photo: Melanie Pollard. Constant Washing Machine is commissioned by Data as Culture at the ODI as part of the University of Sheffield FRAIM project, funded as part of the Bridging Responsible AI Divides programme under UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council
Sam Bonser
Sam Bonser is an animator and illustrator working with traditional and digital mediums and has worked in community and educational settings. Sam’s artwork utilises observation and site-specific drawing for creating immersive worlds and stories. They are interested in understanding data systems, inspired by Bruno Latour’s black box concept and how technical work becomes invisible and inaccessible, considering how we can develop a more tangible connection to technology.
https://www.instagram.com/sambonserart
Millad Khonsorkh
Millad Khonsorkh works in independent animation, video production, documentary and participatory arts. They use hand-drawn and mixed-media styles, combining charcoal, ink and archive material. Millad has a background in journalism, and is interested in themes such as childhood memories, media, politics and the surreal. Millad is curious about the gap between what data claims to measure and uncover and people’s real lived experience. Exploring the systems that collect, interpret and visualise data and the forces that shape them.
https://www.instagram.com/milladkhonsorkh
Isolda Milenkovic
Isolda Milenkovic is an animation director exploring documentary storytelling with stop motion, found materials and traditional textile mediums. Her work explores themes of cultural heritage, human labour, and the forgotten histories of women and queer people. Isolda is interested in exploring Privacy Enhancing Technology, in relation to erasure, surveillance, and activism in the queer community historically and today.