Arts Archives - Swissnex in Japan

Upcoming

March

March 11, 2025 — April 3, 2025 Japan 11 Tuesday Japan

Arts, Exhibition
Swissnex Window #4: Folklore Fusion

Swissnex in Japan, in collaboration with ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne, presents Folklore Fusion, a visual communication project exploring Swiss and Japanese folklore through a cutting-edge CGI character project.
Info & tickets

Inspired by field research in Tokyo, ECAL Media & Interaction Design students created Swijūs, a unique set of characters blending elements from both cultures to create new tales with a contemporary twist. Through prints, augmented reality, an interactive platform, a book and a collection of trading card games, the exhibition offers fresh perspectives on folklore and cross-cultural dialogue.

Exhibition Highlights

The exhibition presents folklore in a fresh light through various installations, including:

Visual Print Display

A3-sized prints featuring 13 unique “Swiju” characters
Large-scale panels and traditional “noren” curtains printed with close-up images for an immersive experience

Augmented Reality (AR) Experience

Visitors can use smartphones to see “Swiju” characters come to life through AR technology

Interactive Website

On-site screen offering detailed character insights and creative process documentation
Purchase links for books and trading cards are also available

Books & Trading Cards (can be purchased online)

A publication documenting the project’s creative journey
A collection of 56 unique trading cards

This exhibition is open to the public and provides an immersive art experience that blends tradition with cutting-edge technology. We invite you to explore this unique cultural fusion in person.

Credits

Bio

Pauline Saglio
Head of Bachelor Media & Interaction Design & Head of Project
Pauline Saglio (*1989) is a Swiss interaction designer and professor at ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne, where she leads the Bachelor Media & Interaction Design program. This program connects various aspects of digital communication and is aimed at students interested in exploring new technologies in visual communication. As co-founder of Mouvement Studio, Pauline has worked on interactive installations and scenographies that combine physical and virtual elements to create new forms of storytelling. With over a decade of experience and having collaborated on numerous projects with renowned international brands, Pauline manages projects ranging from visual communication to tangible design. She encourages the exploration of different fields through CGI production, programming, and practical concepts, fostering innovative ways to link media, data, and interaction in interactive experiences.
Bio

Kylan Luginbühl, Elodie Anglade
CGI Teacher & Digital Content
Elodie Anglade & Kylan Luginbühl are Swiss designers and teachers at ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne. Their work focuses on 3D experimentations and immersive experiences, blending physical and digital spaces through CGI and emerging technologies.

Elodie is a freelance interaction designer, while Kylan is a media designer and co-founder of Floating Point Studio. Their projects have been showcased at international events such as DEMO Festival, KIKK, Geneva International Film Festival, and Dubaï Design Week.
Bio

Louis Roh
Graphic design, Lettering & Illustration
Roh Louis (2000) is a graphic designer from Wallis who studied at EDHEA (VS) in 2015 and then at ECAL (VD) in 2020. He completed his graphic design studies in 2023 and works as an academic assistant at the Lausanne Cantonal School of Art (ECAL) alongside his independent practice. He varies his production across multiple mediums such as books, animation, visual identity, etc.
Bio

Sébastien Matos
Web Design, Interactive Content & Video
Sébastien Matos (*1996) is a freelance interaction designer. He specializes in web and motion design. He loves solving problems and pushing his own boundaries. He studied at ECAL, where he now teaches and shares his expertise. He is also part of Mouvement Studio, a collective that creates interactive installations and scenography.
Bio

Julien Gurtner, Jamy Herrmann
Trading Card Game Design
Jamy Herrmann is a Media & Interaction Design graduate from ECAL, where he later worked as an assistant in the Visual Communication department and the Centre des Technologies. His work explores the intersections of graphic design, imagery, and emerging technologies, questioning their impact on perception and interaction. Through his practice, he examines how digital media reshape visual experiences and their implications. Julien Gurtner (*1982) is an independent graphic designer, illustrator, communication advisor and, since May 2019, artistic deputy at the ECAL (University of Art and Design Lausanne) for the visual communication department. He studied graphic design and space and communication at the Art and Design University of Geneva. He founded the Voile Noire studio specialized in creation of brand identities and visual strategies in 2016.