Within the Cuban context, the State's incapacity for economic management, together with the lack of political will, has rendered Internet access extremely limited to this day (Cañive, 2017). However, the need for virtual socialization has given rise to informal communication networks, channeling what cannot be provided through formal means. The interconnections among Cuban video gamers form such an informal communication network. To analyze this network's forms of expression, starting from its internal dynamics of operation, we created “AgarTG Teams” (MOD of the video game Agar.io (Valadares, 2015)). The work consists of an interactive installation where we present “AgarTG Teams” in controlled spaces of socialization, to reproduce on a small scale the informal video game networks that clandestinely unite thousands of people in Cuba.

References

• Cañive, E. V. (2017). Internet en Cuba: ¿limitada por la política o la Internet en Cuba: ¿limitada por la política o la economía? Retrieved 09 14, 2020, from Periodismo de Barrio

• Valadares, M. (2015, 04 28). Agar.io. Retrieved 09 14, 2020.

Title: AgarioTG Teams
Year of creation: 2016-2017
Technique: Interactive installation, AgarioTG Teams (TGar server, Agar MOD), sociological investigation, installation, local network.
Presentations:

• November 29, 2018. As part of the collective show Playing seriuosly. El Oficio Gallery, Havana, Cuba.

• June 21, 2017. As part of the solo show Inventario. Ludwing Fundation, Havana, Cuba.

• June 24, 2016. Semana de Arte contemporáneo, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.

Direction and concept: Yonlay Cabrera
Programming and hardware: Gustavo Viera, Antonio Serrano
Sociological investigation: Adrián Noa
Production: Real Embassy of Norway in Cuba