Let's look ahead together.
Beyond doomsday scenarios and empty promises.
And experience how art and technology are shaping our future.
Are we going down laughing, or is this the start of something radically new?
happy ending?
Be surprised by the projects of the exhibition, which for 80% consists of young talents. You will see firsts before they are included in the collections of major museums around the world. They challenge you with a sharp edge, but remain innovative and playful.
Think Robots, E-fashion, Victim Blaming, Body Modifications, Post-Apocalyptic Worlds and more.
The 2025 theme, Happy End, has a double meaning. "Happy End is a bit naughty, and conjures a smile," says Viola. "But on the other hand, as the first world, we are fast killing the earth: forest fires, floods, disasters. We buy cottages in Spain only to see them swept away by floods, and keep flying back and forth to them from the Netherlands. Bizarre that we go down dancing in our own decadence. Several civilisations before us appeared not to have learnt that lesson either." - Continue reading the interview with Creative Director Viola van Alphen at https://www.bno.nl/blog/artikelen-10/dansend-naar-het-einde-2700
Manifestations is a journey into the future, past 'unreal' technological realities.
Theme 2025: happy ending
Let's look ahead together.
Beyond doomsday scenarios and empty promises.
And experience how art and technology are shaping our future.
Are we going down laughing, or is this the start of something radically new?
We live in a time when hope and fear alternate. On the one hand, the promise of technological progress, on the other, the threat of climate crisis, power systems and social inequality. Dancing on the edge of the volcano - as depicted by Joep van Lieshout in 'The Happy End of Everything' - we try to stay in control. After all, who has the power: ourselves, or the systems we create?
Happy End? makes that tension tangible. Do we see technology as saviour or oppressor? Do we choose denial, or do we dare to confront invisible enemies, social blindness and our survival instincts?
Discover new talent here
At Manifestations, you will see things you haven't seen anywhere else. More than fifty artists make hidden problems visible. With their artworks, interactive installations and immersive experiences, they create space: to engage in conversation and critical thinking together.
Open your eyes to the fascinating relationship between man and machine. In a world that could be sweeter and better: where are your limits?
Art, Tech & Fun!
At Manifestations, you will see things you haven't seen anywhere else. More than fifty artists make hidden problems visible. With their artworks, interactive installations and immersive experiences, they create space: to engage in conversation and critical thinking together.
Open your eyes to the fascinating relationship between man and machine. In a world that could be sweeter and better: where are your limits?
Open to all for FREE
An initiative of Art & Technology Foundation and creative director and curator Viola van Alphen. Guest curators and scouts: Abel Kamps, Erik-Jan Kamerbeek, Agnes van Dijk, Bianca Runge, Tom Haakman, Wesley Hartogs, Yolande Willink, Aïsha Dingemans, Joan Bosveld, Tim Nonnekes.
Art & Technology Foundation
About
Manifestations
Manifestations is the festival of art and technology that will be held through fun, wonder and curiosity celebrates digital activism. A touch rebellious too, with an eye for the uncomfortable and the role of technology in a world that could be better and sweeter.
Thanks to a bold and futuristic focus on the impact of innovation, the festival is one of the most edgy events during Dutch Design Week, which challenges visitors to look more critically at developments. The gaze of artists helps with this. They see new possibilities, new applications, new connections, new scenarios and place unstoppable technological developments in an unexpected perspective.
Springboard for leading talent
Manifestations is the festival of art and technology that will be held through fun, wonder and curiosity celebrates digital activism. A touch rebellious too, with an eye for the uncomfortable and the role of technology in a world that could be better and sweeter.
Thanks to a bold and futuristic focus on the impact of innovation, the festival is one of the most edgy events during Dutch Design Week, which challenges visitors to look more critically at developments. The gaze of artists helps with this. They see new possibilities, new applications, new connections, new scenarios and place unstoppable technological developments in an unexpected perspective.
Team
2025
Creative director/curator: Viola van Alphen
Business Leader: Mikki Pepels
Coordinator floor managers & tours: Agnes van Dijk
Floor managers: Katja van den Eijnden, Aisha Dingemans, Agnes van Dijk, Phoebe Gartsen, Mirjam van der Meij, Kristina Miltcheva, Marta Tuminska, Sophie Yotova
Coordinator Volunteers: Agnes van Dijk
External relations: Peter Visser
Social media: Yolande Willink
Staff Assistant and Education: Gizing Khalandi, Aïsha Dingemans, Lisa Machielse
Communication: Mikki Pepels, Nicolet Pennekamp, Gemma Boon
Website and Design: Flora Hellemons, Gudule, Fierman, Nicolet Pennekamp, Oscar Wouterse
Photography and Video: Edwin Smits, Roy te Lintelo, Local Androids, Nadia Hagen, Edwin Smits, Sophie Verstappen, Rudy Betorina, Urban Studio, Studio-H, Marina Provatidou
Exhibition Design: St Lucas College
Tour guides: HannaH Bossers, Ingrid Berleau, Cris Copini, Agnes van Dijk, Katja van der Eijnden, Gera Le Mair, Mirjam van der Meij, Peter Soudant
Regular volunteers: Adinda Snelderwaard, Cris Copini, Ralf Graf, Hans Hummel, Marjon Kool, Emire Korkmaz, Karolin de Kort, Alana van Son, Peter Soudant, Lineke Louwers, Ireneusz Dynkiewicz, Cars de Kock, Vera Elfferich (intern), Lars (intern), Joanne Corbett (intern).
Building Team and Light Design: The Fantasts and many others. And many, many volunteers!!!
Close co-"partners-in crime": MAD emergent art centre, Emmaus, Kobane, and others.
Manifestations is an inclusive event.
Council of
Supervision:
G.J.W.M. Altena chairman (Pangea Foundation - for society and cultural criticism)
Drs A.B.A.G. Rasing secretary (Odeon Foundation - strengthening cultural infrastructure)
F.C. Manders (Hyperspace Institute - Professional association AR VR MR)
J.D. Huizenga (Head of Department Interactive/Media/Design at Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Co-Founder European Street Design Challenge, vrml Waag society)
A. de Raad (Notary. Legal, MSX game pioneer)
Advisory board:
J. Wieringa (Business Leader Cultural Centre DOOR Dordrecht)
J. A. Lino (Designer / Professor Media, Interaction and Narration / Theme Leader Creative Economy Fontys, vrml business leader STRP festival, Designhuis)
J. Post (vrml director Philips, Red Cross, chairman KvK Amsterdam)
Administrators
and scouts
" Abel Kamps, Young Talent, Minerva Art Academy.
" Erik-Jan Kamerbeek. Lecturer Fontys module 'Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industry' for graduates and long-time scout at Manifestations. Artist mentor.
" Janine Huizinga. Head of Department of Interactive Media Design KABK. Former board member Bits of Freedom.
" Agnes van Dijk. Fashion artist. Academy of Arts St. Joost. Founder Agnes van Dijk Fashion Art (2012). Nominated for the Eindhoven Culture Prize and S4Fashion Europe/Athens. Exhibited recently at Parktheater Eindhoven, International Theatre Centre Eindhoven, Manifestations, Fashion Tech Week New York, Menga Actua Impacta Barcelona.
" Bianca Runge. Visual artist, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Arnhem (now ArtEZ) 1989-1994 Free Art, has been exhibiting for 30 years from Kabinetten in de Vleeshal to Manifestations, previously scouted for Museum Le Secet, Bewaerschole, Willem3 and KULT Toonbeeld.
" Tom Haakman. Visual artist, HKU product designer 2021. Explores connection with religion in our technological society. Runner-up Young Talent award Manifestations.
Worked on the graduation exhibition at HKU and in the preparation of Days Ahead exhibition. Exhibited at Manifestations, Object Rotterdam, Art in Oisterwijk, De Nijverheid and in the Grote Kerk Naarden.
" Wesley Hartogs. Creative Technologist, assistant lecturer at TU/e, lecturer Avans Hogeschool Communication and Multimedia in Den Bosch. Worked with ChatGPT before it became mainstream. Exhibited previously at Manifestations and at Design Museum Den Bosch with his Love Letter generator. Has a good nose for talent. "I help people and initiate projects at the intersection of technology, design and art. I connect this to a social context."
" Yolande Willink. Scout and curator for PLANETART (GOGBOT and TECART): art and music programme (2014-2019) that received BIS status. Graduate AKI (now AKI ArtEZ) mixed media in 1998. Exhibited recently at Möllerwerf and Manifestations.
" Aïsha Dingemans. Fashion Designer. Fontys College of the Arts. Young Talent in 2023. Collections: Fungi in Fashion and Dressed by Nature.
" Sebastiaan Schoonen. Audiovisual artworks, installations and performances. Young Talent in 2023. Presents at various festivals.
" Joan Bosveld, young talent.
" Tim Nonnekes, young talent.