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KIKK Festival

The 8th KIKK Festival, the international festival of digital culture, is once again bringing together talented conference speakers, entrepreneurs, artists and exhibitors from varied, complementary fields: art, science, economics, technology, design and communication, etc. See you from 1st to 4th November for four days of creative and digital culture! Like every year, the conferences, market and KIKK in Town are free.

The theme: "Species and beyond"

The 8th KIKK Festival's theme "Species and beyond" will explore the boundaries between the living and non-living by deconstructing our anthropocentric visions of the world and shifting perspectives. Faced with global challenges, contemporary perception has changed and artists and philosophers are calling into question mankind’s central position in the world, which has dominated modern thought.  New questions are arising. What can we define as a species? What happens when we look at the world from the point of view of animals, plants, bacteria, minerals and the force of the elements? Contemporary art explores this vision of the world that is not focused on human beings, by using technology and science to look at the symbiotic relationships between the living and non-living, contemplating hybridity, synthetic life, organic life, artificial life, interactive ecosystems, generative models, experimentation with carbon-based lifeforms, DNA synthesis and genetic modifications. This year, KIKK will focus on the way in which these artists and researchers combine art with science to go to the heart of the connection between microscopic and macroscopic worlds. A foray into the worlds and ecosystems constructed by artists to investigate the links between the technosphere and ecosphere, while questioning the underlying relationship with the Anthropocene.

KIKK in Town

A brand new feature in 2018, KIKK in TOWN extends to the city centre. Commissioned installations, quirky places... we invite young and old to discover the city from a new angle for four days (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

  • Water, by Cantoni, Crescenti, Kogan - BR, Cathédrale Saint-Aubain
  • Woodpeckers, by Marco Barotti - IT, Jardin des Bateliers
  • Timid Wilderness, by Miranda Moss - SA, Institut Sainte Marie
  • Sonic Jungle, by Florian Dussopt - FR, Institut Sainte Marie

Conferences

Artists, designers, artistic directors, entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, developers... each year KIKK gathers nearly 50 world class conference speakers. This is an opportunity for a mainly professional audience to draw inspiration from best practice and new tools as they take a step forward. A few names: Nelly Ben Hayoun, Marco Coppeto, Graham McDonnell and more.

KIKK Market

Product demonstration and sales space, the Market is the ideal showcase for innovative, technological and creative projects by Belgian and international entrepreneurs. Open for 4 days, the Market is an opportunity to test, experiment, handle or create and discover the new challenges of a world in movement. At the weekend, there are many activities organised: you can make your own 3D snail or a mini-nightlight...

KIKK Pro Village

The festival networking space provides access to a VIP business environment: a BtoB platform facilitating contact and the exchange of information between participants, providing spaces for meetings or to invite clients. You will also encounter speakers and artists there.

Workshops

KIKK workshops are an opportunity for participants to discover new technologies and techniques. Organised alongside the festival, the workshops vary from a few hours to several days.

KIKK Parties

The KIKK Festival will captivate your ears for 2 evenings! Festival-goers are invited to relax in a quirky space - the Bunker!

  • Thursday 1st November: Obsequies (BE) - Stellar OM Source - Courtesy (DN)
  • Friday 2 November: An evening with Boudin Room and their surprise guests