The EU-funded HEPHAESTUS project is pleased to announce the online release of two digital exhibitions by D20 Art Lab: A Brave New World and Brave New World Sketches. Previously shown in Italy and Sweden, both exhibitions are now accessible to all, inviting viewers to explore speculative futures and reflect on the role of craftsmanship in shaping society.
A space for imagination
These exhibitions highlight the power of artistic expression to engage with complex themes and open spaces for dialogue across cultural and disciplinary boundaries. They are dedicated to the memory of Helena Hansson, researcher at the University of Gothenburg and a valued member of HEPHAESTUS.
Postcards from a Brave New World
Developed over three years of art-based research across four craft ecosystems, A Brave New World uses video, sound recordings, interviews, notes, and generative AI to imagine an alternative present—one built on artisanal values rather than industrial mass production.
The work was shared and discussed at Palazzo Sturm (2023) Italy, Dals Långed, Sweden and Ca’ Foscari University (2024), Italy before being exhibited at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg (2025), Sweden.
The digital exhibition presents a selection of speculative images that reframe reality through artistic interpretation and artificial creativity.
Explore the digital exhibition
Brave New World Sketches
For this edition, artisans were invited to contribute their own visions of a craft-led future. Their sketches, material-reuse concepts, and reflections offer grounded, imaginative insights into how everyday life and production might look in a world shaped by craft.
Participating makers include Michela Bortolozzi – Relight Venice, Jin Choi, Rob Curran, Karl Hallberg, Jokum Lind Jensen, Jocelin Veronese – 333 Studio, Nynne Rosenkrantz Christiansen, Nicola Pavan, Pol Polloniato, Elena Rausse & Bruno Testa – Te.Ra., Anna Maria Sand Jensen, Alberto Scodro, and Valentina Stocco – VS Ceramics.