Present state of mind?

Excited yet focused.

Biggest success?

Phew. Difficult question. There are ‘small’ things like eating less meat, for instance, to helping out friends and people in general but also being selfish when I need to… traveling to the US when I was 21 years old and exploring the world before me, trusting my intuition and intellect …and ‘bigger’ things like integrating 3D printing to lower my carbon footprint and waste. Working with Rice University, Melotte, NASA. Being able to connect art with science and technology, my blackest black art…

How did you get here?

Curiosity and self-criticism ‘helped’ me a lot. Balancing ratio and intuition is another thing, or finding a balance between choosing the most ‘conductive’ and ‘non-conductive’ (read easiest or more difficult) path.

Biggest failure?

Haha. Sure. Where do I start?

What are your dreams?

There are very personal things. I have dreams, which ‘can’ come true in my lifetime, and things I am probably never going to be able to realise (except the thought of it
of course). From an artistic point of view I want to paint the world NANO BLACK to lower global warming, and render all photonics energy into thermal to electricity with almost no loss. When I was a child I dreamt of creating the first artist colony on the moon. That’s still within hand reach.

What will it take to make them come true?

Devotion, timing, patience, help.

Biggest fear?

I don’t fear death, I fear that I won’t have enough time to realise my dreams and ambitions.

What inspires you?

Can be solitude, being surrounded by amazing people, experiencing art, science, making technology, an algorithm or formula, a quote, an expression, a story, music, a movie, an act, a gesture, a situation, an image…a cup of coffee.

Plans for the future?

Nope. Just kidding. I am keen on complexity and try to find elegance in there, mostly by connecting different disciplines etc. There is commission work, software, audio-visual and kinetic artworks dealing with radiation, energy, randomness, etc, 3D printed art in production, new collaborative work with NASA, Rice University…

What would you change?

I am inclined to say ‘nothing’. On the other hand I would like to have a deeper impact on society. That’s my goal and ambition. Art is my main driver but the scope can be
pretty wide. I am researching how and try to ‘stretch’ its meaning as far as I can (imagine).

www.frederik-de-wilde.com

Text: Pál Hegedûs
Photos courtesy of Frederik de Wilde

State of mind?
Right now, I’m working on several serial projects for television. We are still awaiting a decision for a third series of Real Humans.

Biggest success?
A series called Tusenbröder (Brothers in crime) was a huge success in Sweden, so was also a comedy series called Pistvakt. But the greatest international success has been Real Humans.

How did you get where you are?
I’ve had my share of luck, combined with hard work and stubbornness.

Failures?
Oh yes, some stuff will fly and some will not. That’s the way it works. You have to be an explorer and in being that, you will always take a wrong path every now and then. You can learn a lot more from failures, to be honest. But with no successes you won’t keep that privilege to fail.

Dreams?
I seldom remember my nightly dreams. I can daydream uncontrolled sometimes about a relaxed life with no ties or worries on a tropical island far far away – just like the majority of people in the north of Europe. You know, it’s my job to dream in a way, and I write them down for a living.

What will it take?
More hard work I’m afraid.

Biggest fear?
To be struck by a deadly disease or that something bad will happen to those I love and care about.

What inspires you?
Life and the human struggle.

Could you share your plans for the future?
Right now I don’t know what’s going to be my next project to be realised. I’m developing a few pieces and I’m also engaged in the development of other projects in Matador Film. Of course we are hoping for a third series of Real Humans.

What would you change?
Right now, nothing of the stuff that really matters.

See More?
The Swedish sci-fi drama series Äkta människor (Real Humans) premiered on 22 January 2012 on SVT1 and has been sold to around 50 countries around the world. It raises key ethical issues related to the encroachment of technology in society, according to Lundström: “How can we sustain humanity and tolerance despite these changes? What is a ‘human being’?” His favourite character is re-programmed (with a free will) hubot Mimi: “She is the main conflict-zone in the series, the bridge between humans and machines”.
www.svt.se/akta-manniskor/

Text: Katalin Fodor and Pál Hegedûs

Photos:

Portrait: Jesper Brandt

Pictures from the TV series: Johan Paulin

State of mind?
Energetic. I’ve just had a great inspiring meeting about one of my new projects.

Biggest success?
Until this point in my career I would consider talking live on NBC news about my Human Birdwings project as a big success, but so was watching my film The Order Electrus during the opening night of the IDFA festival in Amsterdam.

How did you get where you are?
It started with my parents pushing me to go study at the art acadamy. After that I spend a lot of time setting up and realizing my own projects. I always try to tell stories which haven’t been told before.

Failures?
No real failures, I would call them disappointments. Usually a project feels like a disapointment right after I finish it, it needs time to get my appreciation. Maybe because of the amount of time and effort I’ve put into it, and then suddenly it’s finished and nothing can be changed anymore. There are always points that could do with improvement.

Dreams?
My biggest unfeasible dream is to direct a big budget, innovative, intelligent Hollywood blockbuster. A more realistic dream would be to turn my two new projects into a big success.

What will it take?
A lot of time, technical challenges, money, talented team members and frustrations. The projects I’ve realised so far were big adventures, so for sure I will encounter some unexpected twists before my new work is finished.

Biggest fear?
Becoming old-fashioned and outdated.

What inspires you?
Technology, science, the internet, riding my bike, taking a shower, walking in dawn or in darkness, catching a wave with my surfboard.

Could you share your plans for the future?
I’m working on two very exciting fictional online stories, one about my fantasies on the current developments in bio-technology and bio-hacker communities, the other about wi-fi transcendence.

What would you change?
I would like to spend my time more efficiently on creative processes. I get distracted very easily when I’m working on the preparations of a project.

For more projects and information:

www.floriskaayk.com; for more information about the Rayfish Footwear Project www.rayfish.com or  www.nextnature.net

Text: Katalin Fodor and Pál Hegedüs
Photos courtesy of the artists

Present state of mind?
My life has been full of incredible excitement lately. There are miracles and tragedies happening on a daily basis. I am filled with hope but I am realistic. Not bored for sure.

Biggest success?
I hope that my biggest success is yet to come. For the time being I am most proud of our achievements at the 100% Design exhibition in London. Having collected a vast number of exceptional contacts is encouraging recognition and builds faith in the future.

How did you get where you are?
Ambition, strong will, perseverance, courage and many, many supporters who backed me up.

Heroes?
Akram Khan’s and Farooq Chaudhry’s relationship sets an outstanding example for the ideal synergy between artist and arts manager. I admire Adam Somlai-Fisher, the founder of Prezi, who, besides his arts career, has achieved such a great success in business that has contributed to framing the image of Hungary. And of course I could cite many more!

Failures?
Certainly, I have to face them every day. The road to success is not straight and not guaranteed. You have to train yourself, you have to endure or simply be able to handle hardships more naturally.

Plans for the future? Dreams?
I would like Laokoon® moving structure and the products made from it to bring professional and financial success. One is not worth much without the other. Right now I am working on building up the team that is necessary to reach those goals. I would be glad if the applications could go beyond the boundaries of design, fashion and architecture and used in completely different fields such as robotics. I sincerely hope to find partners to accomplish my ambitions.

What will it take?
Lots of work, self-discipline, planning, learning, courage, perseverance, attentiveness and of course a good deal of luck are all necessary to make great dreams come true.

Fears?
Of course, but I’d prefer not to talk about them. I don’t want to feed them and let them gain strength.

Inspiration?
Articles, presentations, trade fairs, exhibitions, good conversations…

What would you change?
I would like to change the whole world, but I had better focus on what is within the sphere of my influence so changing my own unfavorable habits and learning from my mistakes.

You can see the work of this artist at the exhibitions Maison et Objet 6-10 September 2013, (Nord Villepinte, Paris) and 100% Design 18-21 September 2013 Earls Court, London).

You can watch the Laocon video below.

Text: Katalin Fodor.

Photos: Francois Joly (portrait), Horváth Dániel.

Present state of mind?

Concerned. There is deep trouble in ‘my’ three countries. In Mexico, documented electoral fraud is about to bring the PRI party back to power. In Canada, the Harper government is converting a nation that was proudly environmentally and socially concerned into an international embarrassment. In Spain the Rajoy government is destroying the livelihood of low and middle class families instead of going after the bankers and speculators responsible for the melt–down.

Biggest success?

The project Voz Alta [loud voice] is an interactive installation to remember the Tlatelolco student massacre in Mexico City (1968). The audience can speak into a megaphone that automatically controls the brightness of four searchlights that relay their voice over Mexico City as quiet light flashes; tuning into 96.1FM radio allows people anywhere in the city to listen in live to what the lights are saying.

How did you get here?

Perseverance, intuition, enthusiasm, luck.

Heroes?

Chuck D, Agnes Martin, Alan Turing, Alejandro Jodorowski. There are many more, these examples come to my head as people whose passion and talent I admire.

Biggest failure?

My career as DJ Taco Stand. I'm a bad DJ but I love doing it!

Fear?

Right now it is Mitt Romney, not him, but the world view he represents.

Inspiration?

In science, in night-clubs, swimming, psychotherapy and with my family.

Plans for the future?

To become a better father to my three kids, to go back to school, to pay my studio assistants a better salary, to start a foundation in Mexico, to be mindful that all plans for the future change.

What would you change?

Like everyone, I'd love to come up with an alternative economic model that is not based on unsustainable growth, that values the environment and culture, and that can support an open society.

Until June 1, 2013, you can see Pulse Index in the Focal Points group show (curator: Tim Wilcox), Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester.

For more projects and information: www.lozano-hemmer.com

Text: Adele Flakke Johannessen

Photo: www.lozanohemmer.com

Mandy Barker

The millions of tons of plastic suspended in the North Pacific Ocean in an area known as the Garbage Patch bring devastation to marine ecosystems and wildlife. Plastic is a killer. UK photographer Mandy Barker has created collages from debris collected from beaches around the world to make a chillingly beautiful series called ‘SOUP’. Her aim? “To make people act. Or at least make them think.”

State of mind?

Contemplative, satisfied with the aims for my work, but always keen to progress.

Biggest success?
Being recognised and nominated for this years’ Prix Pictet 2012, the world’s leading photographic award in sustainability, is a great honour.

How did you get where you are?
By 4 years of studying photography, but more importantly: because I believe, with a passion and determination, that I had to put forward my point of view on this problem, to a wider audience.

Translucent: Ingredients; translucent plastic debris.

Failures?
I would like to think I could see the positive side of everything, – even if things don’t go exactly to plan.

Dreams?
To make people aware of problems through visual interpretation. And to prompt them to act. Or at the very least – to make them think.

What will it take?
In some respects I have achieved my dreams, taken by the amount of emails and enquiries I receive from around the world. People ask to use my images for publication or to re-blog on social networking sites, – they are very positive about my work and ask what they can do.

Biggest fear?
That people don’t care.

Inspiration?
I get inspiration from people who seemed to have achieved the impossible when everything is against them. But I find inspiration in most things: it is all around us, in nature, art, books, in what people say and do and their experiences.

Plans for the future?
I want to visit the North Pacific Gyre to continue my work on marine plastic debris, by seeing the extent of the problem for myself and by documenting it. I am looking for sponsors or media partners to enable me to take part in such a research expedition. So, if anyone reading this would like to help, please contact me.

What would you change?
I would eradicate poverty and remove power from those who use it to detrimental effect. Closer to home, I would make conservation and environmental issues part of the school curriculum.

Text: Pascal Messer
Photos: Mandy Barker

Suzanne Lee, fashion designer and Director of BioCouture, investigates the use of microbialcellulose, grown in a laboratory, to produce clothing. She collaborates with scientists to unite design with cutting edge bio and nano-technologies. Ultimate goal? To literally grow a dress in a vat of liquid.

State of mind?
Excitement and optimism! Aftermy talk went on TED.com I hadso many enquiries and offers ofsupport from around the worldthat it has been inspirational. I'vebeen made a Senior TED Fellowfor 2012 so have to rise to the challenge!

Biggest success?
Hmm, I take every day as it comesand as long as there is support forwhat I’m doing from my peers andpeople like TED, it makes me feel Ihave ideas worth sharing.

How did you get where you are?
With a willingness to swimagainst the tide. While the fashionindustry has pursued ever fasterand cheaper, unsustainable production, I’ve become driven tofind radical alternatives, such asgrowing clothing.

Failures?
I’m not sure I view anything I’ve done as a failure. I’ve always taken risks by not following an established path, but that’s all part of being creative.

Dreams?
I’d love to see my research become a successful commercial product and transfer some of that design knowhow to social entrepreneursin developing countries.

What will it take?
A design/science team who collaborate well, backed by sufficient funding! It might also take some major rethinking onthe part of certain industries to pioneer new production facilities.

Fears?
That fighting entrenched resistance kills my passion before I succeed.

What would you change?
I’d force everyone in the fashion industry to be transparent about where, how and by whom their products were produced. This trillion dollar industry exploit sand pollutes while selling seduction. I still love fashion, but boy, could we do better.