Press releases

The winner of the Manifestations Young Talent Award πŸŽ‰
Dae uk Kim – Mutant.


MUTANT aims to fulfil, explain, and reveal how his desires and dreams have met obstructions, due to societal expectations of gender. Mutants and minorities are rarely accepted in this heteronormative world. As if they are aliens in high heels.

The winner of the Manifestations Young Talent Award 2021 is Dae uk Kim. His work Mutant is designed from an inner necessity and manifests itself in an accessible way to a wider audience. The designer does not remain unaffected: it deals with gender and sexuality and deals with the vulnerability within a culture in which there is no open communication about this. That is why Dae uk Kim speaks through exuberant art objects in drag, for which he has mutated existing ‘inferior’ material into uplifting poetic work. The jury admires how he has used the aesthetic to increase empathy for the marginalized. The work has a strong narrative, stands out, has power and is vulnerable.

The second prize goes to Tom Haakman. His work, 404: Religion not found/Religion versus technology, is based on his Christian background. It is a museum work that criticizes how religious thoughts dictate our social laws. It questions rather than answers. Haakman has thematized in clear forms and is consistent in his environment. At a time of polarization and hurting, the jury is impressed by his “respectful criticism of religion”. Tom Haakman is a Graduate at the HKU Utrecht.


Young Talent Award 2021:
The sharp edges of technique & art

As always, also this year the exhibition consists up to 80% of projects of young talents. Scoops. Discover them before they show up in the collections of major museums around the world. With their objects and images they challenge you with a sharp edge, but remain innovative and playful. They pay attention to, or rather, play with your privacy, or make you wonder how our online life transforms us. The best projects also have a chance to win the Young Talent Award.

The new generation of artists questions the impact of technology on our existence. Questions that are more relevant than ever. It’s more than time to carefully think about the influence of technological and economic developments on our lives. Pollution and its effects on our health also deserve attention. It is not necessary for the economy. We think we’re civilized, but let’s be less monstrous. Everyone can do something. For example, only buy in thrift stores and let yourself be heard. And not just on Facebook in messages to each other: we live in a time when we can just send the Prime Minister or the municipality an email, for example to gemeente@eindhoven.nl. A government is always seeking support from the majority of the people, so make your voice heard.
So it’s time for self-reflection, rethinking our behavior and making some noise!

BrabantC recently interviewed our creative director about this, you can read this back here.

Click here to see all nominees

Enjoy the Best of Dutch Design Week: sign up for the Manifestations VIP Tour

This year, self-reflection is the central theme: since it’s time to really look at ourselves: at our own behavior and the unethical systems we have built. With self-reflection and self-mockery, we see that much of what we consider normal, is not normal at all and that it is important to find a new balance between people, nature and technology.

So, what do we see when we look in the (virtual) mirror? Do we see ourselves in all our vulnerability with big and small questions about life, and uncomfortable problems such as climate change, the great inequality in the world, and the big tech that very loosely handles our privacy? Or do we see ourselves wearing a mask, someone who prefers to look away because of the discomfort? Who separates waste, but in the meantime continues to buy cheap clothes and participates in the rat race of the achievement society and more, more, more? We reward people who enrich themselves at the expense of the health of others and the planet. We look up to people who perform well financially, regardless of the consequences of that behavior.

Now it’s the time for us to stop seeing this as normal. It is not necessary for the economy. We think we’re civilized, but let’s be less monstrous. Everyone can do something. For example, only buy in thrift stores and let yourself be heard. And not just on Facebook in messages to each other: we live in a time when we can just send the Prime Minister or the municipality an email, for example to gemeente@eindhoven.nl. A government is always seeking support from the majority of the people, so make your voice heard. So it’s time for self-reflection, rethinking our behavior and making some noise!


Manifestations festival, Art, Tech & Fun! For the sixth year in a row, Manifestations shows artists who, in a funny, spectacular or controversial way, examine the (mis)matches between people and technology and ask how technology can contribute to a sweeter, more humane world.

The festival takes place 16 – 24 October, of course free and in a corona-proof location at the hotspot Milkfactory @ Campina / De Caai and is expanding with an online part. The theme of this year’s edition: Selfreflection!

Over 50 works by mostly young, recently graduated artists will be shown, putting the exciting interaction between people and technology in a different light. Manifestations is the largest Art & Tech event during Dutch Design Week. Visit our website for the full range and program of kids workshops, lectures and meet-ups. We offer tours and VIP tours in English, Dutch, French and Arabic; contact us for more info!

Self-reflection puts the interaction between people and technology in a new light in four steps, and gives insight into the various dilemmas that technical developments entail. Are we what we look like, do we wear masks? What do we really want (or did we forget)? Do we only discover this when we quieten and slow down? Do we feel uncomfortable in the climate crisis, do we over-consume and make excuses to feel better? What does the future look like, what will the new balance be and do we need a new relationship with technology, ourselves and the world around us?

What can you expect? Robots, E-fashion, kids program, algae coat, technology & religion, clock with colors of the day instead of numbers, lonely pool people, privacy, body enhancements, mutants to deviate from the norm, what does your soul look like? Discover the future homo sapiens who can live under water. Generate your own energy, watch post apocalyptic videos, discover Eindhoven as arms trade city, enjoy e-Girls and Gaming Girls. Discover the most beautiful and coolest Instagram filters you can try out live. Check the large virtual worlds of Sansar and Second Life. Play with VR and Haute Couture … And discover more about yourself, the other and more.

In 2021 Manifestations will again consist of Art, Technology and Fun, explained by ‘Selfreflection’… We need self-humor and to realize what we really deep down want, in a world where misunderstanding and fear dominate.

Self-reflection puts the interaction between people and technology in surprising light.

  • Avatar & Personification (are we what we look like, do we wear masks? Are we who we represent online?)
  • Intimacy & slowing down (what do we really want and only discover it when we are quiet for a second and slow down?)
  • Discomfort & Mass Extinction (do we feel uncomfortable in the climate crisis, do we over-consume and make excuses to feel better?)
  • New Balance (what does the future look like, what will the new balance be?)

Do we need the above steps and a new relationship with technology, ourselves and the world around us?

Β 

Avatar & Personification

An avatar is your alter ego, an online self representation. Does that match with who you are? Are we conforming ourselves to the perfect norm on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram?

#avatar #personification #online-display #body extension #selfrealisation #self-mockery #striving vs being #me vs body #transhuman

Β 

Intimacy and slowing down

What do we really want or did we forget that? Slowing down and being quiet (for a while) might help getting back these answers.

#intimacy #inside #what do we really want or did we forget #quiet #slowing down #not going for jobs but setting priorities in the intention behind a decision #real priorities

Β 

Discomfort & Mass Extinction

We feel uncomfortable in the climate crisis, we over-consume and make excuses to feel better. Advertising slogans are: ” because you are worth it”. In 2021, we live in a world where you can send an email to the president, stop excuses and get active!
Try to buy 99% second hand, and stop rewarding people who make money at expense of other people’s health.

#discomfort #climate #apocalypse #mass-extinction #XR #fake safety excuse #consuming less #excuses #overload

Β 

New Balance

In a time when Elon Musk is seen as the new pope, we have to keep asking our questions which role we want technology to have. Which insights and self reflections do we need? How do we keep focus on a more human development of technology and digital civil rights?

#balancing #more human role of technology #digital civil rights #privacy #healthy development of technology

Be sure to follow Manifestations on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know when the registrations are open for the physical event, and how to join at the online for livestreams and a trip in the virtual world. Note, you can also add Manifestations to your favorites at the program on DDW.nl.

(September 2021)

Manifestations festival, Art, Tech & Fun! For the sixth year in a row, Manifestations shows artists who, in a funny, spectacular or controversial way, examine the (mis)matches between people and technology and ask how technology can contribute to a sweeter, more humane world.

The festival takes place 16 – 24 October, of course corona-proof in a new, safe location at the hotspot Melkfabriek @ Campina / De Caai and is expanding with an online part. The theme of this year’s edition: Self reflection!

Over 50 works by mostly young, recently graduated artists will be shown, putting the exciting interaction between people and technology in a different light. Manifestations is the largest Art & Tech event during Dutch Design Week. Visit our website for the full range and program of kids workshops, lectures and meet-ups. We offer tours and VIP tours in English, Dutch, French and Arabic; contact us for more info!
Visit Manifestations.nl

What can you expect? ROBOTS, e-Fashion, het Kids programma, algae coat, arm caressing machine, technology & religion, clock with colours of the day instead of numbers, lonely pool people, privacy, body enhancements, discover the future homo sapiens who can live under water, independent energy, post apocalyptische videos, Eindhoven as a city in the arms trade, e-Girls and Gaming Girls, the most beautiful and coolest Instagram filters you can try out live, Sansar and Second Life, Drones and Haute Couture … And discover more about yourself, solutions for security & connectedness in the public space … and more.

In 2021 Manifestations will again consist of Art, Technology and Fun, explained by ‘monsters’… We need Fun and self-humor in a world where misunderstanding and fear dominates.

Be sure to follow Manifestations on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know when the registrations are open for the physical event, and how to join at the online for livestreams and a trip in the virtual world. Note, you can also add Manifestations to your favorites at the program on DDW.nl.

Β 

Location: Melkfabriek @ Campina / De Caai
14 t/m 26 October, daily from 11:00 to 18:30
Accessible for wheelchairs: ground floor. Kids program.

β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

—–

Ultrashort:
The Manifestations festival at DDW 14-26 Oct in Eindhoven, is dedicated to showing the more human side of technology.
Curator Viola van Alphen has selected works by over fifty young artists and recent graduates that aim to shine a powerful light on the exciting interaction between human beings and technology.
The festival will touch on themes as wide-ranging and current as geopolitical superpowers, body enhancements, robots, fear, hope, mass media, e-Fashion and the Macho versus the feminine. Participants include ines.alpha, Maartje Dijkstra, Sensoree and many young talents of Dutch art academies 2021.Β  https://mailchi.mp/eea2430569af/manifestations-2020monsters-6519436

https://mailchi.mp/5f6ad14a8759/uitnodiginginvitation-opening-digitale-rondleiding-manifestationsddw21-6522188

Hi-res photo’s: http://bit.ly/Manifestations2021hiresΒ Β 
Β 

Manifestations Logo: download PSD Β JPG Β TIF