Serene Velocity in Practice: MC510 & CS183

Serene velocity in practice: MC510/CS183 is a major commission by renowned New Zealand artist Michael Stevenson, well-known for his sculptural works that ‘excavate the ironies of history through scrutiny of its relics and artefacts’.

Serene velocity in practice is based on two seemingly unrelated academic courses, C510 and CS183, which were modules taught for a short time in Californian higher-learning institutions – one by Vineyard Ministries founder, John Wimber, at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena; the other by Silicon Valley entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Peter Thiel at Stanford University’s Computer Science faculty. While seemingly poles apart ideologically, Stevenson’s juxtaposition of these pedagogical models in side-by-side classroom installations suggests how they may have more in common than might first be imagined. Both courses were transformative in their respective fields and each quickly developed a mass following globally, resulting in best-selling books and a multitude of educational spin-offs and further impact.

MUMA partnered with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the Biennale of Sydney 2018 to commission this major new work.