Drones are reshaping visual culture, human-machine interaction, and aesthetic expression. From cinematic landscapes to military surveillance, from art installations to everyday leisure, drones are increasingly mediating how we sense, see, and relate to the world.
This international and interdisciplinary workshop aims to bring together scholars and artists to explore how drones perform, intervene, and matter in cultural and social contexts. Hosted by the Department of Media & Communications and the Digital Age Research Center (D!ARC) at the University of Klagenfurt, the workshop (29.-30. Jan 2026) is part of the FWF-funded arts-based research project “Performing Drones.” Contributions address drones from perspectives such as media studies, STS, anthropology, cultural studies, and sociology, particularly focusing on the entanglements of aesthetics, mediation, agency, and politics—as drone imaginaries travel across contexts. Topics discussed are drone art and images, drone visions, drone performances as well as civilian and military drone uses.