Let's Get Phygital

Abstract

"Let's Get Phygital" is an international and interuniversity project that involves a course, a creation process, and an exhibition, developed in collaboration with the London College of Fashion (UAL), Estonia Academy of the Arts (EKA), and PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt.

Through a series of lectures and workshops, students from these three universities have been trained in creating Augmented Reality jewellery as well as learning how to critically navigate a (post-)digital culture.

Their works are showcased in three exhibitions: PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt (9/11 – 29/11/2023); EKA, Tallinn (13/11 – 18/12/2023); and UAL, London (14/05-22/06/2024).

The opening night of the exhibition at PXL-MAD on November 9, 2023, featured a panel discussion with researchers in the arts Mala Siamptani (doctoral researcher at UAL and founder of the project), Darja Popolitova (doctoral researcher at EKA and co-organizer), Anneleen Swillen (co-organizer), Ine Vanoeveren, and Guus Vandeweerd (both researchers at PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt).

The exhibition and panel at PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt were part of the Re-Worlding seminar of the Doctoral Schools of Hasselt University.

This event was also included in the 'Obsessed!' programme, a jewellery festival organised by Current Obsession.

A second panel discussion, held in conjunction with the exhibition opening in Tallinn on November 30, 2023, featured Mala Siamptani, Darja Popolitova, and Anneleen Swillen, who presented their research in the arts and discussed the "Let's Get Phygital" project from their perspectives as researchers, lectureres, and curators of the project.

A third panel discussion is scheduled to take place on the 14th of May, 2024, in London, coinciding with the opening of the exhibition at UAL.