Co-creating and building the ArtTech community towards a sustainable future
Keywords: Sustainable development, co-creation, ArtTech community, technology and art
As part of the international activity series ArtTech Fusion 2024 (ATF24) organized by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the panel discussion titled “Co-creation to Build the ArtTech Community to Address Sustainability Issues” brought together leading domestic and international speakers. They offered profound insights into the intersection of art and technology in tackling global challenges, aiming to foster a community working together towards a sustainable future.
Panel Discussion: Co-creation to Build the ArtTech Community to Address Sustainability Issues
The panel discussion titled “Co-creation to Build the ArtTech Community to Address Sustainability Issues” featured the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh, Vice Dean of UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD); Prof. Martin Kaltenbrunner, a researcher and artist from the Institute of Arts, Linz (Austria); Assoc. Prof. Fillipa Martins, Head of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Saint Joseph (Macau); and Prof. Andrea Giansanti from the Pantheon Institute of Design & Technology (Italy).
The speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration among designers, artists, engineers, and other stakeholders in building a robust ArtTech community. They also shared practical examples of how interdisciplinary teams can work together to create innovative solutions for complex challenges.
The keynote speakers participating in the main panel discussion included Prof. Martin Kaltenbrunner, Prof. Fillipa Martins, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh, and Prof. Andrea Giansanti.
Co-creation Model – Connecting Stakeholders
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh, Vice Dean of the UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD), shared insights on the crucial role of design in creating sustainable products and services. In today’s context, as social and environmental issues become increasingly urgent, she emphasized the necessity of research and application in design not only to meet market demands but also to address global challenges.
Through innovative projects that merge art and technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thuy Anh highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and active community involvement. She introduced the “4P Model”: Private (private enterprises), Public (government), People (community), and Partners (stakeholders). This model underscores the strong connections among these elements in crafting sustainable solutions.
This approach goes beyond the collaboration between art and technology, offering a powerful framework to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh, Vice Dean of the UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD), shared a co-creation model involving stakeholders in addressing sustainability issues.
SỐNGLAB Digital Art Centre at Huế
ArtTech as a Tool for Social and Environmental Solutions
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh demonstrated that ArtTech, the integration of art and technology, is not merely about creative works but serves as a powerful tool to address social and environmental challenges. By connecting designers, artists, engineers, scientists, and local communities, the projects she leads produce unique art pieces that simultaneously deliver practical societal benefits, raising awareness and fostering behavioral change within communities.
Interactive Technology and Art in Raising Climate Change Awareness
Prof. Martin Kaltenbrunner, a researcher and artist from the Institute of Arts, Linz, Austria, made a strong impression during the panel discussion by sharing innovative projects utilizing interactive technology to create profound and novel artistic experiences.
One of his standout projects, Dodeka OTTO, is a virtual reality (VR) application that allows participants to vividly and intuitively experience the impacts of climate change on the environment and humanity. The project transcends the realm of art to become a powerful tool for confronting audiences with the grave environmental changes we are facing.
Through VR technology, participants can “step into” a virtual world where phenomena such as melting ice caps, heatwaves, flooding, and other adverse effects of climate change are rendered strikingly vivid and real. This approach not only enhances interactivity but also establishes an artistic space where audiences can feel the issues—not just understand them theoretically but through direct, immersive experiences.
Prof. Kaltenbrunner emphasized that art, when combined with technology, has the unique ability to evoke powerful emotional responses, breaking through intellectual barriers and deeply engaging viewers’ emotions. This makes abstract and seemingly distant issues, like climate change, more tangible and accessible, driving shifts in awareness and behavior within communities. Projects like Dodeka OTTO allow audiences not only to perceive but to emotionally grasp the urgency of global challenges.
Moreover, he underscored that technological advancements not only offer new tools for artistic expression but also open new opportunities for artists to contribute to social and environmental movements. Technology enables artists to explore limitless creative methods and expand the reach of art beyond traditional spaces, fostering positive impacts in society.
ArtTech’s Role in Tackling Global Challenges
In the face of global crises like climate change and environmental degradation, innovations such as Dodeka OTTO exemplify the potential of ArtTech in raising community awareness and driving positive, long-term change. These creative endeavors are instrumental in shaping a more sustainable future for our world.
Dodeka OTTO
Building the ArtTech Community in Macau
Assoc. Prof. Fillipa Martins, Head of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph (Macau), delivered an impressive presentation during the panel discussion on creative projects from Macau, particularly focusing on the development of the ArtTech community to address sustainability challenges. She introduced a unique co-creation model where artists, technologists, and the community collaborate to develop innovative solutions for pressing environmental and social issues.
A distinctive feature of her projects is the co-creation process—a multidisciplinary collaboration that involves not only artists and technologists but also the local community. This model ensures that all stakeholders participate in the design and implementation of sustainable solutions. Prof. Martins emphasized that in a world increasingly confronted with complex issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, the collaboration between art and technology is key to developing effective and creative initiatives.
ArtTech Projects in Macau: Merging Technology with Cultural Heritage
A key highlight of Prof. Martins’ ArtTech projects is the integration of modern technology with Macau’s unique cultural heritage. Macau, with its long history and blend of Eastern and Western cultures, holds a rich cultural legacy. Prof. Martins pointed out that while technology offers advanced technical solutions, cultural heritage provides spiritual values, historical narratives, and traditional methods that can contribute to building more sustainable solutions. By merging these two elements, ArtTech projects in Macau not only bring technological benefits but also help preserve and promote the valuable cultural heritage of the region.
Prof. Martins also introduced several other creative projects in the field of cultural preservation in Macau, where new technologies assist in safeguarding and developing both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. These projects go beyond merely using technology to restore classical art pieces; they also serve as a bridge connecting historical stories and cultural traditions with younger generations, thereby raising awareness about the value of local culture in the context of globalization.
Prof. Fillipa Martins from the University of Saint Joseph, Macau, introduced several notable projects from Macau focused on preserving culture
Co-creation and the Development of a Sustainable ArtTech Community in Italy
Prof. Andrea Giansanti, from the Pantheon Institute of Design & Technology in Italy, is a pioneer in applying emerging technologies to art projects while building and developing a sustainable ArtTech community. He emphasized that technology, especially virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), is not only a tool that supports art but also a medium that enriches and expands creative possibilities in traditional art, particularly by creating new, engaging, and more accessible experiences for the public.
In his presentation, Prof. Giansanti shared two significant projects he has worked on to demonstrate the potential of technology in enriching traditional art. One such project, “Inside Painters: Van Gogh”, uses VR technology to recreate Van Gogh’s artistic world, allowing participants to step into the environments of famous works such as Starry Night and Wheatfield with Crows through immersive virtual experiences. This not only brings the public closer to these iconic artworks but also provides an opportunity to deeply experience the context and emotions that the artists sought to convey.
Prof. Andrea Giansanti, from the Pantheon Institute of Design & Technology in Italy, shared projects focused on developing the ArtTech community in Italy
Co-creation and the Development of a Sustainable ArtTech Community in Italy
Prof. Andrea Giansanti, from the Pantheon Institute of Design & Technology in Italy, shared two significant projects that showcase the potential of technology in enriching traditional art. One of these is the “AR Red Riding Hood” project, which uses augmented reality (AR) technology to create interactive versions of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Rather than simply reading or hearing the story, participants can “immerse” themselves in the plot, interact with the characters, and actively participate in the storytelling process. These projects are not only a creative fusion of art and technology but also a step forward in making art an integral part of the digital life, where technology plays a role in enhancing experiences and creating new learning opportunities for users.
Prof. Giansanti emphasized that the integration of technology with art is not meant to replace traditional values but to enrich existing art forms. In fact, technology brings not only new experiences but also enhances art awareness by creating novel educational methods and inspiring creativity.
Lastly, through his contributions, Prof. Andrea Giansanti reinforced the idea that digital innovation in art is essential in building a sustainable creative community. Thanks to the development of technologies like VR, AR, and other interactive technologies, art is not only evolving in form but also becoming a powerful tool in raising community awareness on sustainable issues.
Through these contributions, the ArtTech community in Italy is actively contributing to a more sustainable future, where art, technology, and the community merge together to address societal and environmental challenges while preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
ATF24 – A Platform Shaping the Future for Young Creative Generations Toward Sustainability
As part of the growing ArtTech field, the ArtTech Fusion (ATF) international event series is organized annually by the ArtTech Hub (ATH) in collaboration with UEH School of Technology and Design (CTD), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), and various domestic and international partners, with different themes each year.
In 2024, ATF marked its third edition, with the theme “New ArtTech for Future Generations,” aiming to inspire and promote creative thinking and innovative actions in future generations, contributing to the building of a sustainable society.
Over the course of the three-day event (October 22-24, 2024), ATF24 featured more than 30 academic and practical activities, including 5 keynote speeches, 10 special sessions, 5 parallel research presentations, 5 workshops, 1 academic book chapter publication, 9 exhibitions, 1 heritage connection trip, and 1 tangible performance.
Author: ThS. Trần Lê Quỳnh Anh, Nguyễn Hoàng Khánh Đoan – University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City
This article is part of the Research Contribution For All series from UEH, with the message “Research Contribution For All,” and UEH invites readers to look forward to the next UEH Research Insights newsletter.
News & Photos: Authors, UEH Communications and Partner Development Department
Narration: Thanh Kiều
