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VITA - Tamiko Thiel 
 
  Tamiko Thiel: Curriculum Vitae 

Education 
Awards, Residencies, Special Events 

Screenings, Exhibitions 

Reviews 

Art and Technology Positions 

Teaching Experience 

Publications 

Lectures 

Languages 

 
1991    EDUCATION 
 
  ACADEMY of FINE ARTS, Munich, Germany. 
Fine Arts Diploma. Concentration in found object and video art installations. 
Fall '87 - Spring '88   Project seminar under the 
object artist Daniel Spoerri. 
Summer 1985:   Guest student of the painter Joerg Immendorff. 
1983    MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA, USA. 
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. 
  Studies in computer graphics and visual imaging at 
ArchMac and VLW (Media Lab.) 
  Studies in human-machine interface at the Biomechanics Lab; Master's thesis: "Real-Time 
Simulation of Ultra-Sonic Mobility Aid for the Blind." 
1979    STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Stanford, CA, USA. 
B.S. in General Engineering/Product Design.Concentration in human-machine interface design. 
 
  .AWARDS, RESIDENCIES, SPECIAL EVENTS: 
 
2001   Guest showing of "Beyond Manzanar" virtual reality installation 
at welcoming reception for Dr. Lydia Hartl, the new head of the Munich Cultural Department, Munich, Germany. 
2000   Photo essay on "Beyond Manzanar" published 
in the premier issue of the new Japanese critical theory journal 

Diatxt, Kyoto Art Center, June 2000, pp.65 - 72. 

Images from the series 

Metamorphoses featured on front and back covers of Leonardo Journal, 

MIT Press, Volume 33 #2, 2000, and on Leonardo's 

website. 

Sapporo School of the Arts, Sapporo, Japan. Visiting Artist. 
1999   International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences 
(IAMAS), Ogaki City, Japan. Artist in residence from November 1999 - March 2000  to produce the Beyond Manzanar virtual reality art project. 

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CA. Residency in 

the Department of Communication and New Media Design. 
1998    WIRED Magazine and the 
Asian American Arts Foundation: 

Grant award for 

Beyond Manzanar virtual reality art project. 
1997   "DOLL.MONSTER.DEATH.: Cultural Transformation 
Processes of Bio- and Information Technologies," Natural History Museum, 

Vienna, Austria: 

The Totem of Heavenly Wisdom video installation was the  keynote event at the opening ceremony. 
1996   BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION (BAVC), San Francisco, CA: 
 Artist Equipment Access Award for The Totem of Heavenly Wisdom video installation. 

GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE (GII) AWARDS 

(formerly the NII Awards): 

Starbright World virtual reality playspace 

received the following awards for extraordinary achievement on the Internet and information highway. 

- Winner of Next Generation Award - Finalist in Childrens category - Semi-finalist in Telecollaboration category 

ASAHI SHIMBUN: 

Digital Entertainment Award for Starbright World 

SMITHSONIAN / COMPUTER WORLD: 

Starbright World virtual reality playspace was a Finalist in the  Medicine category. 
1995   CYBEREDGE: 
Virtual Reality Product of the Year Award in the "Applications" category for 

 Starbright World . 
1992   ZENTRUM fuer KUNST und MEDIENTECHNOLOGIE (ZKM), Karlsruhe, Germany: 
Deutsche Videokunstpreis (German Video Art Prize): "Das Goldene Ei" 

 ("The Golden Seed") video art piece premiered on German TV station SUEDWEST 3 as one of the "50 Best" finalists. 

Butoh at Johnny Walker's "Art Waves in Front," Tokyo, Japan: 
Invitational screening of my video 

Golden Seed, Butoh performance by Kazuo Ohno, photographs of Butoh by 

Nourit Masson-Sekine. 

1985   THINKING MACHINES CORPORATION, Cambridge, MA: 
Co-holder of patent for "Method for Interconnecting Processors in Hyper-Dimensional Array" for the 

Connection Machine CM-1, parallel supercomputer. 

There are CM-1 and CM-2 Connection Machines in the collections of the COMPUTER MUSEUM, Boston, MA and the Museum of American History, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington DC, USA. 
 
  SCREENINGS EXHIBITIONS
 
2001   "Beyond Manzanar" solo exhibition, 
LOTHRINGERSTRASSE 13 / LADEN, Munich, Germany. 

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, 

Seattle, WA., USA. 

SIGGRAPH N-Space Gallery, 

Los Angeles, CA, USA. 

COSIGN 2001 Conference, 

Amsterdam, Holland. 

Interaction `01, 

Ogaki City, Japan. 

CYNETart 2001 , Dresden, Germany 
2000   IAMAS Artists-in-Residency Exhibition, 
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography , Tokyo, Japan. 
1999   VRML99 , Paderborn, Germany. 
Electronic Media Arts Festival (EMAF), Osnabrueck, Germany. 
1998   "Plugged In," HAINES GALLERY, San Francisco, CA, USA. 
"Asian Body," TIDBIT GALLERY, Portland, OR, USA. 

"Digital Art Pavilion," PALO ALTO FESTIVAL of the ARTS, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 

"Artists' Intersection with Technology," YLEM/WCA exhibit at KORET GALLERY, Palo Alto, CA. 

"The Light is Diverse in California,"  CENTER for VISUAL ART, Oakland, CA. 

"Not Still Art Festival," Cooperstown, New York. 
1997   "Aurinko - Exhibition of Solar Art," RAUMA MUSEUM of ART, Rauma, Finland. See online review at Leonardo Journal's website. 
"CHIK TEK 97: Women Artists Defining Technology," 

 ART-TECH GALLERY, San Jose, CA. 

"Women and the Art of Multimedia," NATIONAL MUSEUM of WOMEN in the ARTS, Washington DC, USA. 

"Dancing for the Camera," AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL, Durham, NC, USA. 

"Digital Media: Art and Technology," AEA Award Winners' Presentation, BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION 

(BAVC), San Francisco, CA, USA. 

"STIMULUS TRANSMIT," Cable Access Channel 53, San Francisco, CA, USA. My video art work was 

showcased in the premiere episode of this monthly showcase of independent media artists. 
1996   "New Media," Artists' Salon, HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Marin, CA. 
"Brains, Perception and Consciousness," Ylem Forum, EXPLORATORIUM, San Francisco, CA, USA. 
1995   "Starbright World: World Launch," 
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA. 

"Starbright World: A Peek in the Lab," DIGITAL WORLD, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1993   "4th International Sound Basis Visual Arts Festival," WRO 93, Wroclaw, Poland. 
"VideoForum," ELDORADO CENTRUM VOOR BEELDCULTUR, Antwerp, Belgium.
1992   Butoh at Johnny Walker's "Art Waves in Front," Tokyo, Japan. Invitational screening of my 
video  Golden Egg, Butoh performance by Kazuo Ohno, photographs 

of Butoh by Nourit Masson-Sekine. 

"Experimental Film and Video Festival," IMAGE FORUM, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. 

"Deutsche Videokunstpreis," ZENTRUM fuer KUNST und MEDIENTECHNOLOGIE (ZKM), Karlsruhe, 

Germany. Video selected as one of "50 Best" for broadcast on German TV station SUEDWEST 3. 

"Videonale 5," BONNER KUNSTVEREIN, Bonn, Germany. 

"Videokunst in Muenchen," KUENSTLERWERKSTATT, Munich, Germany. 
1991   "Diploma Exhibit," AKADEMIE der BILDENDEN KUENSTE, Munich, Germany. 
1988   "The Beauty and the Beast," PROJEKT DANIEL SPOERRI, Munich, Germany. 
1987   "Vor dem Hammer," GALERIE KLAUS LEA, Munich, Germany. 
 
  REVIEWS 
 
2001   Hauffen, Michael. "Tamiko Thiel und Zara Houshmand: Beyond Manzanar," Springerin, 
  Band Vii Heft 2, Juni-September 2001, pp. 75,76. 
Herbst, Katja. "Medienkünstlerin," SAT1/Bayern Journal, 

(German TV), 24. März 2001. 

Vu, Khanh. "The Story behind 'Beyond Manzanar'," 

NW Nikkei / North American Post, Vol. 18 No.17, April 21, 2001, pp.2,5. 

"Sakuramatsuri ni kitai: Beyond Manzanar," on front Page of Hokubei Houchi/ North American Post 

 (in Japanese), Vol. 57 No.29, April 18, 2001, pp.2,5. 
2000   Photo essay on "Beyond Manzanar" published in the premier issue of the new Japanese critical theory journal Diatxt, 
Kyoto Art Center, Vol. 1, June 2000, pp.65 - 72. 

Richard, Birgit. "Vergehen Konservieren Uploaden. 

Strategien für die Ewigkeit", Kunstforum, 

Vol. 151, July – September 2000, Page 50. 

"Future Computer Image Suggested in the Abacus," AXIS Magazine, March/April 2000, pp. 37-41. 
1998   Greenman, Catherine. "Network Helps Children Cope With Serious Illness," New York Times, May 28, 1998, page D6. 
Koski, Janne. "Aurinko - Sun: Solar Art" at the Rauma Museum, Finland, 

Leonardo Journal, 

MIT Press, Vol.31 #2, 1998, pp. 81-86. 

The article is also on-line at The Leonardo Electronic Art Gallery. 

Cohn, Terri. "Chik Tek '97 at Art-Tech," Artweek Magazine, Vol.29 No.2, February 1998, page 17. 
1997   Richard, Birgit. ""Digitale Todesbilder: Künstliches Leben, virtueller Tod," Zukünfte, 1, 1997. Sekretariat für Zukunftsforschung, Essen, Germany, pp. 23-26. 
Sherman, Ann Elliott. "Return to Gender," Metro/ San Jose, December 11-17, 1997, page 42. 

Levander, Michelle. "Sick Kids Shine in Virtual World," San Jose Mercury News, June 19, 1997, Peninsula section. 

Wawra, Christine, unpublished essay: 

"Glut und Tanz: Sinnlichkeit in den Videos von Tamiko Thiel," (Deutsch) 
"Fire and Dance: Sensuality in the video art of Tamiko Thiel," (English) 

1996   Richard, Birgit. "Schöne neue Welt. Super- Computer, künstliche Ambiente und Design- Fiktionen für das Leben im Netz," Virtualität contra Realität. Schriftenreihe der Burg Giebichenstein, Halle, Germany, 1996 
McCarthy, Susan. "the good deed," WIRED Magazine, September. 

Dunn, Ashley. "Meeting, Sharing, Healing While Exploring a Virtual World of Play," New York Times Cyber Times Extra, January 23, 1996 
1995   Sperlich, Tom. "Trost und Waerme on line," Die Zeit Nr. 26, June 23, 1995 
Hellmich, Nanci. "A computer playspace to ease suffering," Cover story for USA Today, Wed., Nov. 8. 
1992   Arimoto, Masatsugu, "Connection Machine: Let the machine speak for itself." AXIS Magazine, Tokyo, Japan. 
1991   Gudrat, Petra. "Portraet: Tamiko Thiel, Maschinenbauingenieurin und Video-Kuenstlerin," Sueddeutsche Zeitung, 
Sept. 4.
1988   Wie. "Verspielt, unterhaltsam. Eine Ausstellung der Muenchener Akademieklasse Daniel Spoerri," 
Sueddeutsche Zeitung. 
 
  ART and TECHNOLOGY POSITIONS 
 
1998 - 1999    BRIGHTLIGHT, San Francisco, CA, USA. Technical writer for Brightlight's anti-spam software (http://www.brightlight.com/). 
1994 - 1996    WORLDS, INC., San Francisco, CA, USA. Creative Director and Producer of Starbright World, a multi-user networked virtual reality playspace for seriously ill children, for the Starbright Foundation (Steven Spielberg, chairman.) Defined creative vision of project, managed content team of artists and programmers. 
Final demo involved kids on stage in New York with Steven Spielberg and General Norman Schwartzkopf, networked together with kids at 4 hospitals around the country. 
1992    OMNIBUS JAPAN, Tokyo, Japan: Consulted on user interface for Japanese versions of Side Effects 
Software's Prism 3D computer graphic animation software. 
1991   THINKING MACHINES CORPORATION, Cambridge, MA, USA. Consulted on packaging and industrial 
design of the Connection Machine CM-5 supercomputer. 
1986 - 1991    SOFTLAB GmbH, Munich, Germany. Technical writer and translator for English language documentation for Softlab's 
 CASE products (Computer-Aided Software Engineering.) 
1983 - 1985    THINKING MACHINES CORPORATION, Cambridge, MA, USA. Head of Packaging and Industrial 
Design for the Connection Machines CM-1 and CM-2, the first commercially available massively parallel supercomputers. 

Co-holder of CM-1 patent for "Method for Interconnecting Processors in Hyper-Dimensional Array." 

There are Connection Machines in the collections of the COMPUTER MUSEUM, Boston, MA and the Museum of American History, 

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington DC, USA. 
1979 - 1981    HEWLETT-PACKARD, SUNNYVALE, CA, USA. Packaging Design Engineer. Two computer terminal 
products released to the market. 

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE 
Spring 1999    CITY COLLEGE of SAN FRANCISCO, San Francisco, CA, USA. Developed and taught a class in multimedia 
process and production. 
Spring 1994    CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Visiting Associate Professor of Design. 
Developed and taught two classes: Modern Fetishes, Relics and Totems (design theory and studio project) and 

Do Machines Have Souls? (design theory). 
1993   MEDIENLABOR MUENCHEN, Munich, Germany. Taught workshops in video art. 
1982-1983    MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA, USA. 
Media Lab (Visual Language Workshop): Taught video 

art workshops.

Department of Mechanical Engineering: Teaching Assistant for FORTRAN programming class. 

 
  PUBLICATIONS 
 
2001   "Beyond Manzanar: Constructing Meaning in Interactive Virtual Reality," 
COSIGN 2001 Conference Proceedings, Amsterdam, Holland. 

Thiel, Tamiko and Houshmand, Zara. "Beyond Manzanar," on front Page of 

NW Nikkei / North American Post, Vol. 18 No.17, April 21, 2001, pp.1,5. 
2000   Images from the series 
 Metamorphoses featured on front and back covers of Leonardo Journal, 

 MIT Press, Volume 33 #2, 2000, and on Leonardo's 

 website. 
1995    Thiel, Tamiko. "Machine Sapiens," YLEM NEWSLETTER, Vol. 15, No. 6, Nov./Dec. 1995. pp. 5-6. 
1994    Thiel, Tamiko. "The Design of the Connection Machine," (Japanese text) 
 INTERCOMMUNICATION MAGAZINE, 

 InterCommunication Center of the NTT, Tokyo, Japan, No. 8, Spring 1994. pp.128-135. 

Thiel, Tamiko. "The Design of the Connection Machine," DESIGN ISSUES, The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 1994. pp. 5-18.
1993   Thiel, Tamiko. "Vijfenzestigduizend Processoren in Twaalf Dimensies," (in Dutch) Computable, Netherlands, 
26E Jaargang, Week 22, 4 June 1993, pp. 25, 27. 

Thiel, Tamiko. "Machina Cogitans," (text in English and German) Genetic Art - Artificial Life, 
ARS ELECTRONICA, Linz, Austria.  pp. 186-194

 
  LECTURES 
 
2001    "Dramaturgie fuer Interaktive VR", (in German) Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen, Potsdam-Babelsberg, Germany. 
Panel discussion on the Japanese-American Internment, together with Dr. Frank Kitamoto of the 

 Bainbridge Island Nikkeikai, Cherry Blossom Festival, Seattle, WA, USA. 

"Entstehungsgeschichte: Beyond Manzanar", (in German) Fachhochschule Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. 

"Beyond Manzanar und die Leitkulturdiscussion," artist's talk (in German) at the 

 Lothringerstrasse 13 / LADEN Gallery, Munich, Germany
2000    "New Media de Kanjo wo Furitsukeru", (in Japanese) Sapporo School of the Arts, Sapporo, Japan.
1999   "Beyond Manzanar - Work in progress" (in Japanese), International Academy of the Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS), Ogaki City, Japan. 
"Fantasies and Other Realities", Viper Media Art Festival, 

Lucerne, Switzerland. 

"Virtual Worlds", Art Center College of Design, 

Pasadena CA.
1998    Virtually Paradise: Virtual Spaces as Refuge,"  Out of the Box Summit on Interactivity, BANFF CENTRE for the ARTS, Banff, Canada. 
"Digital Butoh", Digital Art Pavilion, PALO ALTO FESTIVAL of the ARTS, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
1997    "Personal Fantasies and Public Realities" CHIK TEK 97: Women Artists Defining Technology, held by the CADRE Institute at the San Jose Art Museum, San Jose, CA. 
"Virtual Environments and Healing" AVATARS 97, San Francisco, CA, USA. 

"Virtuelle Koerper; Virtuelle Welten" (in German), TECHNO-Z FACHHOCHSCHULE, Salzburg, Austria. 

"Virtuelle Koerper; Virtuelle Welten" (in German), DOLL.MONSTER.DEATH.: Cultural Transformation Processes of Bio- and Information Technologies," Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria. 
1994     "Calculating Clock to Connection Machine: The Changing Image of Computers," Museum of American 
History, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Washington DC, USA. 

"Machine as Mirror, Machine as Model," IDEO, San Francisco, CA, USA. 
1993   "Symposium on Media Arts Criticism," MEDIENLABOR MUENCHEN, Munich, Germany. 
"Roboter, Animaten und kuenstliche Lebewesen," Genetic Art - Artificial Life, ARS ELECTRONICA 93, Linz, 

Austria.
  LANGUAGES 
 

English: fluent (native 
 language) 

 
 

German: fluent 
  (professional technical translator German -> English) 

 

Italian: conversational 
fluency, can lecture and give interviews about my work. 

 

Japanese: conversational fluency, can lecture and give interviews about my work. 
 (reading and writing is harder!) 

 Russian: some 
 conversational fluency 

 

Spanish: could reach 
 conversational fluency with a couple months of work