Fashion and Art for Our Futures

Photo: Ying Gao "Purple Skin" by Maude Arsenault

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Diving into the tactile world of textiles, this edition of the Forum will explore fashion’s substance as a medium to tell stories, stimulate interaction and participation, and prototype possible futures. We will offer an exclusive glimpse into the exciting works of Montréal creator and UQAM professor Ying Gao, who will be in conversation with Joanna Berzowska from Concordia University’s Milieux Institute.

Furthermore, we are partnering up with Eastern Bloc — who have added championing Montréal’s influential role in the fashion industry to their eclectic mandate — to present a panel hosted by Concordia University’s Miranda Smitheram on the adventurous alliances between textiles, electronics and biotechnology, featuring artists and designers working at the forefront of new materialities.

Another highlight is a keynote conversation bringing together bionic pop artist and creative director Viktoria Modesta, whose multidisciplinary practice is fuelled by her continuous exploration of personal, creative, and technological frontiers, and American writer and publisher David Hershkovits, co-founder of the influential Paper magazine and host of the Light Culture podcast.

Anouk Wipprecht ^NL/USDavid Hershkovits ^US — Cultural Content Consultancy Jacqueline Beaumont ^CA/QC — Concordia University Joanna Berzowska ^CA/QC — Concordia University Miranda Smitheram ^NZ/QC — Concordia University Viktoria Modesta ^UK/USWhiteFeather Hunter ^CA — SymbioticA / The University of Western Australia Ying Gao ^CA/QC — Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

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About MUTEK Forum

In parallel to the Festival, the MUTEK Forum is back for its seventh edition from Tuesday, August 24 to Thursday, September 2 on our virtual platform. This market for ideas aims to bring together artists and companies in digital creativity and electronic music, with the goal of exploring the latest artistic practices while stimulating reflection on the ethical and political issues related to technology and the digital world. Artificial intelligence, extended reality (XR), immersive creation and crypto art are among the many themes that will be explored by more than 100 local and international speakers through 60 activities.

For a second consecutive year, the Forum will also feature a virtual market that facilitates networking by showcasing Québec, Canadian and international artists to buyers from around the world. More than 750 participants, including over 200 distributors, representing 400 different organizations and companies from over 50 countries, will gather on the online platform to attend conferences, panels and workshops, and to develop artistic connections and business opportunities.