Dutch Design Week Spotlight: Sabine Marcelis

International Dutch designer and ambassador of Dutch Design Week, Sabine Marcelis created two project experiences for the event that take on the idea of experiencing visual and tactile art in a digital fashion. In the time of COVID-19, this may be our immediate future of viewing art. How would an activity we usually enjoy in person translate remotely?

We’ve been a fan of Sabine Marcelis’ work as well as her fascination with materials such as marble, epoxy resin, neon and glass, and for the way things are made. In collaboration with tech partners 5GHUB and Dimenco, she developed a three-dimensional digital interaction: Tactility. The project allows her to think outside of the box on what it means to interact with art. By giving viewers the key to seeing all of her newest work, the game has changed. Watch the video above and you’ll no doubt be as impressed with the technology as we are!

Sabine Marcelis

Chaise Lounge

Glass Chandelier

Stacked Table

Totem Light

Soap Table

Marcelis has also been researching the possibilities of offering a physical art experience from a distance. In collaboration with the newly built Victor Hunt Gallery in Belgium, visitors can book a time slot on the website to explore “in person”. They’ll then gain control over a remote high-resolution mobile camera, giving them full range of vision through their proxy set of eyes. This is the first step in what the collaborators say will be larger steps taken with this technology later in the year. This technique will be used on a larger scale soon, but for DDW the first steps will be taken in this new form of art experience.

As Marcelis continues to explore light interactions and reflection, RISE creates an experience with the use of layered mirrors combined with neon lights. The outcome is a unique series of hybrid objects that create unique optical illusions of infinity.