Visualising Presence and Absence in Scotland’s Web Archives

This workshop explores “digital ghosts”—data that evolves, disappears, or behaves unpredictably. Led by artist Dorsey Kaufmann, whose work transforms Scottish web archive data into immersive visual experiences, we’ll examine how visual design can reveal patterns of digital disappearance and question how cultural memory is shaped by what is saved and what is lost.

We’ll begin with an exhibition walk-through of interactive visualisations addressing absence and missing-ness in data, then create our own visual metaphors using cyanotype, light, and other tactile media to illuminate archival gaps.

Designed for those working with non-linear or messy data, the session invites participants to bring questions and ideas for engaging with both presence and absence. Together, we’ll examine how archival choices shape what is remembered or forgotten, challenging the notion of data as whole or objective and reflecting on the narratives hidden in what’s lost or never captured.

This event is partially funded by the National Library of Scotland and the British Academy.

This event is part of the Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 6 - 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.

Facilitator: Dorsey Kaufmann

Date: Sat 15 Nov 2025

Time: 13:00-14:30 | Free/Ticketed

Location: Inspace

Activity Duration: Approx. 90mins

This workshop has limited capacity and so registration is preferred. Participants with tickets are guaranteed entry, drop-in attendance is welcome, but will be on a first come first served basis.

Venue Access features: Accessible toilets, Assistance dogs welcome, Baby changing facilities, Seating, Step-free access, Wheelchair accessible

Further Access information available here: Inspace | AccessAble

If you have any enquiries about the events and the venue, please contact us at designinformatics@ed.ac.uk .

Please note this workshop will be photographed, and may be used for future marketing, promotional or archive purposes. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please let us know at the event.

Image credit: TBC