The 11th edition of the Speculum Artium Festival "Virtual consciousness" was about experimentation between traditional and new media art, virtual reality, and even more advanced technologies, which led to experimentation with brain-computer interfaces.

The presented works of art were based on concepts, postulations that require deep philosophical and sociological reflection about what goes on in the virtual and real worlds around us. Experimentation in art is closely linked to science. The combination of these two paradigms co-creates products with a great potential for a breakthrough onto the global economic market, where they can get even closer to "the common man". The idea of "bringing together" the left (rational) and the right (irrational) brain hemispheres in such a way, ensures sustainable development with the goal of creating a better future in all areas of operation and cross-sectoral integration.

Education is one of the most important elements of the festival. The program included a number of workshops on programming, animation and 360° video production, as well as drone workshops.

Fabricio Lamoncha, artist, curator and professor of Interface Culture at the University of Linz, who is a longtime friend of the festival, presented his selection as a visiting curator at the Speculum Artium 2019.