THE MESSYVERSE

Felix Meritis

Role: Curator
Year: 2023
City: Amsterdam

THE MESSYVERSE was a festival and exhibition during Amsterdam Fashion Week that featured the first-ever fully digital fashion show.

As we continue to embark on new virtual adventures in exciting digital worlds, many questions arise. The promise of these new digital worlds is based on boundless creativity and inclusive spaces, inviting new forms of self-expression and diversity through means of decentralized power. However, the development of these technologies, such as the Metaverse, currently lies in the hands of an elite and homogenous group.

This festival explored how we can ensure that we, as well as future generations, can move freely and safely in an inclusive virtual society. As new realms such as the Metaverse grow, it is increasingly important to ensure that it is a place where everyone is welcome, regardless of culture or background – and that opportunities for self-expression are not left solely in the hands of tech giants.

Through THE MESSYVERSE festival and its accompanying art exhibition and context program, we made participation in these technological developments more inclusive, accessible and inviting.

Curated together with Isabelle Udo, Antonio Talarico, and UNI_VERSE Studios.

Participating Artists, Designers and Speakers

Augmented Weaving
Aukje Dekker
Av0lve
Aynouk Tan
Baast Studio
Catalina Goanta
Chinouk Filique
Code Couture
Cypherloom
Donald Gjoka
DressX
Frank Bloem
Frederik Heyman

Giancarlo Pazzanese
Ginevra Petrozzi
Hanneke Scholten
Ines Alpha
Jakob La Cour
Lu Yang
Malou Sandig
Mutani
Orthodoxx
Polygon Dressing
Romain Gauthier
Serwah Attafuah

Shaka McGlotten
Shaquille Shaniqua Joy
Sonja Backovic
Suza Vos x Harriet Blend
Tabita Rezaire
Tailo Neri
The Fabricant
Timaeus
Tirsa With
Tumelo Setlaba
UNI_VERSE
Vincent Snijders