Alternative Paths

For Chan, the theme of this year’s programme is timely. ‘AI is now so intertwined with all aspects of our daily life, that it is urgent to discuss and speculate on its impact in broad and diverse contexts,’ she explains. Rather than focus on one single stance, Awakenings takes a neutral approach, encouraging artists and designers to explore what it means from multiple perspectives. ‘From AI’s impact on ecology, cultural representation, movement, even spirituality; what is particularly important is to unearth its impact on our living environment and materiality,’ she adds.

The curators have brought together an impressive line-up of global talent to tackle this theme, including works by Henry Svendsen, Sam Ghantous, Andre Williams, Nina Davis and Albert Yonathan Setyawan. There will also be major new commissions from Aziza Kadyri, on the intersection of AI, art and craft; Eunjo Lee, whose project blends spiritual, ecological and technological belief; and V&A Emerging Designer 2026 Playfool whose work focuses on the role of human labour in the age of AI. ‘We wanted to bring together a group of artists and designers whose work reflects a shared sense of living through a period of collective recalibration. Awakenings is meant in the most literal sense, a series of installations offering sudden clarity on the unseen forces shaping contemporary life. Stripping away comfortable narratives, these artists and designers uncover hidden systems and point towards alternative paths,’ says Volsing.

Threading through the gallery’s permanent collection of art, design and fashion, the site-specific installations are designed to unsettle and test preconceptions.  ‘The project brings together diverse forms of creative inquiry, ranging from examinations of the role of artificial intelligence in actively reshaping material culture and communication, to how space and form can express modern identities and spirituality, and how subverting everyday design can challenge our core assumptions,’ says Volsing.

Friday Lates, the museum’s flagship live programme that supports emerging talent, will also run throughout the Festival. ‘It is a testing ground for artists and designers, and quite a number of this year’s LDF artists collaborated with us last year on Friday Lates. We are glad to continue this relationship with them,’ says Chan. Volsing adds: ‘Here our artists and designers can encourage dialogue and activate their installations for a broader audience, bringing their work to life with participatory events, special performances and drop-in workshops.’  Complementing these works, the Global Design Forum also aims to foster debate on urgent challenges, ranging from climate resilience and sustainable futures to AI integration and social equity.

For Volsing, the connecting thread among these highly diverse installations is the way that human identity is being redefined, whether through technology or cultural perspectives. As AI increasingly mediates our perception of both the digital and material worlds, the question of what makes us human and how we express ourselves becomes ever more urgent. ‘We hope that these conversations around design, craft, and technology can inspire new perspectives, spark curiosity, and bring to light invisible, yet interconnected forces,’ Chan adds. ‘Visitors can explore the intangible influences of technology, engaging non-human senses, music and sound as well as how materiality shapes identity formation. Together, these installations and interventions awaken us from the everyday world and confront the forces shaping our collective future.’

Words by Tamsin Kingswell