Magic and Design

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From the late nine­teenth century to the present day, Hocus Pocus explores the surpris­ing links between magic and design. Through the worlds of legendary illu­sion­ists, tech­nical inven­tions, popu­lar enter­tain­ment and spir­itu­al­ism, the exhib­i­tion reveals how design­ers, like magi­cians, use innov­a­tion, staging and illu­sion to inspire wonder and captiv­ate audi­ences.

Running along­side Hocus Pocus, Encoun­ter­o­logy turns to contem­por­ary magical prac­tices as forms of rela­tional tech­no­logy. Bring­ing together immers­ive install­a­tions, ritual objects, spec­u­lat­ive works and a selec­tion of pieces from the mudac collec­tion, the exhib­i­tion explores new ways of connect­ing with living beings, non-human entit­ies and unseen worlds.