VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
@vjumamel.bsky.social
1.4K followers 290 following 27 posts
Socially conscious cyborg with a data body. Digital artist, author, programmer, and associate professor at UC Santa Barbara https://vjumamel.com
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vjumamel.bsky.social
"Portrait of a Cyborg: 2017"--a meditation on form, content, composition, materiality, virtuality, and data. A limited series of inkjet on metal. A self portrait.

Shown in Cairo, San Francisco, New York, Buenos Aires, Rio di Janeiro, and Seoul. It just arrived back home in Santa Barbara.
vjumamel.bsky.social
Sharing glimpses from the exhibition catalog, featuring my work.

This historic publication and show at Diriyah Art Futures brings together pioneers of Arab new media art in one landmark exhibit.

🔗 Explore more: canvasonline.com/event/maknana-an-archaeology-of-new-media-art-in-the-arab-world/
vjumamel.bsky.social
Just dropped a clip from my upcoming project, From the Cyborg’s Desk — part historical fiction, part speculative futures.

I reconstructed the Capitol in 3D using millions of Jan 6 social media images, then glitched the model.

Features lyrics from Land of the Freefall

#GlitchArt #DigitalFutures
vjumamel.bsky.social
As my year-long sabbatical of research and recovery (R&R) comes to a close, I'm grateful to have been able to dedicate time to my health, fitness, and strength.

As of July 1, I return from sabbatical as Director of Graduate Studies. And so with strength, humor, and a calm mind, we go forth.
vjumamel.bsky.social
I am honored to exhibit "R-Shief Portal" (2020) in Diriyah Art Futures' latest show, Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art in the Arab World. This groundbreaking exhibition brings together over 40 artists from across the Arab world. Open through July 2025. #DAF #Maknana #digitalart #arabartists
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
autonomousfutures.bsky.social
In the latest Autonomous Futures substack post, Sarah Papazoglakis asks, "Is Instinct a Techbology?"
Link in bio 🤓
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
autonomousfutures.bsky.social
Ready to recharge this weekend? Check out the cultural texts our collective is turning to for inspiration this year ✨️
vjumamel.bsky.social
Dropping some new and old here.

Two of my works have been nominated for the 2025 Auggie Awards. They are up now for public voting. May I ask for ur vote?

Societal Impact category:
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...

Indie Creators category:
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...
vjumamel.bsky.social
Two of my works are being considered for the Auggie Awards. They are up for public voting.
May I ask for your votes for “Arab Future Tripping” under Societal Impact and “Capital Glitch” under Indie Creators?
Societal..
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...
Indie..
auggies.awexr.com/entry/vote/b...
auggies.awexr.com
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
goodrobotpod.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE! Join us as we talk to the incredible @vjumamel.bsky.social about data bodies, feminist data sets, and Arab futurisms. Watch us now on YouTube, or find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts! ✨

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3m...
Data Bodies and Arab Futurisms with Laila Shereen Sakr
YouTube video by The Good Robot
www.youtube.com
vjumamel.bsky.social
What is Autonomous Futures? "We envision a future where communities own, operate, and determine the appropriate processes of development and application(s) for ai to support our society." @autonomousfutures.bsky.social
What is Autonomous Futures?
Autonomous Futures Community
open.substack.com
vjumamel.bsky.social
We made this in my Fem-Tech Lab seminar in 2017 after a workshop with the Overpass Light Brigade.
#vjumamel
#olb
#overheadlightbrigade
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
gperrone.bsky.social
As Frederick Douglass said,
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will...The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."

@schumer.senate.gov has no endurance.
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
socialmedialab.ca
"The Trump administration wants to review all prospective citizens’ social media accounts. People applying for US citizenship or personal residency may soon have to disclose their social media handles to the government." www.theverge.com/policy/62494...
The Trump administration wants to review all prospective citizens’ social media accounts
An immigrant rights group called the move ‘authoritarian.’
www.theverge.com
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
miriamposner.com
We did dataviz today! If you want to use Flourish, a web-based tool for making graphs and charts, you're welcome to learn along: docs.google.com/presentation...
Getting Started with Flourish w video
Getting Started with Flourish A powerful web-based tool for dataviz
docs.google.com
Reposted by VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr)
justinhendrix.bsky.social
New podcast- at the Paris AI Action Summit on February 10-11, remarks by EU and US leaders indicated significant divergence on how to think about AI. This episode is a sampler platter of the politics on display at the Grand Palais-and in Washington DC at #StateOfTheNet.
Podcast: Paths Diverge at the Paris AI Action Summit | TechPolicy.Press
Prominent voices from the Summit at the Gran Palais in Paris, as well as reactions at the State of the Net conference in Washington, DC.
techpolicy.press
vjumamel.bsky.social
Thank you, Tina Guirguis, for this book review in the International Journal of Middle East Studies. I'm especially thrilled for all your accomplishments and the synchronicity of this review with them.

Link: shorturl.at/ypXEa

#bookreview
#Arabic
#glitch
#revolution
#ArabSpring
#vjumamel
vjumamel.bsky.social
It's interestingly picking up the latest things published or posted about me. But doesn't go back much further than 3-4 years.
vjumamel.bsky.social
I asked Musk's AI what it knew about me
vjumamel.bsky.social
Update to 2025
Photo Credit: Matt Perko
See article: magazine.ucsb.edu/fall-winter-...
#vjumamel
#humanities
#vantage
#Technoculture
vjumamel.bsky.social
On #Jan25, we commemorate 14 years since Egypt's Arab Spring, a beacon of hope for dignity. Today, the country and global community grapple with severe economic strain and political repression. I offer these glitch and mosaic pieces from 2011 to reflect on this tumultuous journey. 🇪🇬✨
vjumamel.bsky.social
Made it to the Creative Capital's shortlist. There were over 5,000 applications - will apply again next year.

In the meanwhile,game is in production. Stay tuned for the trailer.

creative-capital.org/shortlist-20...

#vjumamel
#databodies
#arabfuturism
#arabfuturist
#videogame
#gaming
#cyborgs
vjumamel.bsky.social
Anything heavier and legs would be necessary