The artists and cultural leaders to look out for at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024

Under the overarching theme Next Frontiers for Growth, from the 25th to 27th June 2024, the World Economic Forum will convene the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People’s Republic of China.

The Next Frontiers for Growth theme encompasses a wide range of opportunities and challenges across all sectors and industries, including the arts and culture.

Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and biotechnology, as well as new mediums, like virtual reality, augmented reality and digital platforms, are opening exciting possibilities for artistic expression and engagement.

Additionally, exploring innovative collaborations across different disciplines and industries will push the boundaries of traditional art forms and create new opportunities for growth.

Merging art, technology and science, Krista Kim’s groundbreaking installation, Heart Space, is the very first collaborative biometric AI, generative art installation.

Created in collaboration with Tenbeo, an innovative biotechnology research company and commissioned by Julius Baer, Heart Space is an immersive experience that employs the power of AI to read individuals' electrocardiograms (ECGs), showing the heart’s electrical activity. The installation then allows participants to connect with one another through the universal language of the human heartbeat.

Kim, the visionary behind Heart Space, says that the ideation of the artwork emerged from her will to: “externalize inner states to unite people through shared bio-emotional experience. Advances in biometric AI and projection mapping let me translate heartbeat rhythms into collaborative visualizations. As these atmospheric heart synchronizations reflect collective resonance, my hope is that boundaries dissolve.” The artwork also questions the use of the human heartbeat as a means of identification, opening the door to a new method of biometric authentication.

The fashion industry is actively embracing the next frontiers of growth through sustainability, technology integration and inclusivity. As the industry continues to evolve, there is a growing emphasis on environmentally-friendly practices, such as using sustainable materials and reducing waste.

There is a significant push towards inclusivity in fashion, focusing on diversity in sizing, representation and accessibility. Technologies, such as virtual reality and AI, also play a significant role in enhancing the shopping experience and streamlining production processes. Additionally, achieving equality in garment supply chains and promoting fair treatment and opportunities are steps being taken to enhance inclusivity.

Billed by Vogue France as “the designer behind the most explosive collection of Fashion Week,” Swiss Fashion designer, Kevin Germanier, has conquered the world of fashion and established himself as the new talent to watch.

Globally respected for his sustainable and ethical practices, Germanier champions circular fashion and is committed to leading a better and greener ecosystem across the fashion industry.

Two years after launching his label in association with MatchesFashion, Germanier has cultivated a futuristic utopia through his collections that have been worn by many international celebrities, including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Kristen Stewart, Lily Collins, Björk and Sunmi.

Germanier is set to provide valuable insights into the future of fashion, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and ethical practices within the industry. He will showcase how his brand utilizes eco-friendly materials and actively engages in waste reduction. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to promote ethical practices within the fashion industry. Moreover, Germanier is dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of conscious consumerism and is encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and ethical fashion choices.

With up-cycling and ethicality at the forefront of his brand, at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, Germanier will offer an insight into what the future of fashion should be and showcase how his brand uses eco-friendly materials and is proactively reducing waste, whilst promoting ethical practices, raising awareness about the importance of conscious consumerism and encouraging a shift towards more sustainable and ethical fashion choices.

“If we want people to change their behaviours, we can’t just hit them with facts and figures. We also need to hit their hearts,” Benjamin Von Wong says. “Art creates a sense of curiosity and you can leverage the curiosity to talk about issues.”

Von Wong is a hidden gem in the climate movement, seamlessly blending artistry with catalytic action and collaboration. His impact isn’t confined to galleries or online platforms; his work also serves as foundational material in classrooms across the globe, inspiring the next generation of climate advocates.

After feeling unfulfilled as a hard-rock mining engineer, Von Wong, who calls himself an 'unwilling environmentalist,' picked up a camera and quit his day job to undertake photography full-time. He started focusing on environmental issues after he read about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre of microplastics scattered across 1.6 million square kilometres of ocean between Hawaii and California.

At the Annual Meeting of New Champions, he will share insights into his pioneering art installations, including the four-storey tall Giant Plastic Tap, commissioned by the United Nations and showcased at the United Nations headquarters; the Perpetual Plastic Machine, commissioned by Greenpeace; the Carbon Phoenix, the world's tallest biochar art installation; and, the Guinness World Record recognized Strawpocalypse, crafted from 168,000 plastic straws. The world’s largest art installation made from plastic drinking straws.

Von Wong's large-scale artworks have all become cornerstones in environmental focused conversations that prompt positive problem-solving approaches that can make a difference. This includes promoting renewable energy sources, implementing sustainable practices in industries, supporting conservation efforts, reducing waste, promoting recycling and advocating for policies that protect the environment.

Through exploration and collaboration, businesses, governments, creatives and individuals can unlock new possibilities, drive economic and environmental prosperity and create a more sustainable and inclusive future for all. The meaningful and pioneering works of Kim, Germanier and Von Wong encourage us to stay agile, adaptable and forward-thinking to navigate the next frontiers for growth creatively and successfully.