Contemporary Dutch artist and creative innovator Daan Roosegaarde presented the inaugural International Creative Visitor Lecture at Murdoch University on Monday 5 August.

Mr Roosegaarde is a highly awarded and acknowledged leader in creative problem solving, research and in developing projects in the interests of progressive environmental sustainability.

A featured artist at the upcoming 2019 Fremantle Biennale, his social designs explore the relationships between people, technology and environmental space.

Murdoch Vice Chancellor Eeva Leinonen said Roosegaard was a fantastic selection to deliver the University’s first International Creative Visitor Lecture.

“Daan Roosegaarde creates collective experiences where people feel connected to a vision that mirrors what we strive for here at Murdoch University – curiosity, innovative thinking and working together to find solutions for global problems,” Professor Leinonen said.

“In addition, his commitment to embedding sustainability within his projects and developing elegant solutions that benefit the environment matches our commitment to these very same goals.”

Investigating the social role of design

In his public lecture, Mr Roosegaarde explored the social role of design and the importance of ‘Schoonheid’ (a Dutch word meaning both beauty and cleanliness), along with his projects that merge technology and art in urban environments.

The lecture was held at 6.30pm Monday 5 August in the Kim E Beazley Lecture Theatre at Murdoch’s South Street campus.

During his three day visit to Murdoch, Mr Roosegarde also discussed his studio practice with arts researchers and exchanged ideas with staff and students from sustainability and environmental engineering fields.

Murdoch University’s Art Curator Mark Stewart said this was a special opportunity for the campus community to connect with an internationally renowned creative.

“Creatives think about things in a very different way and that can lead to a lot of exciting explorations in the way we go about our work,” Mr Stewart said.

“Daan Roosegaarde’s work in environmental concerns and sustainability is a lovely marriage with the Murdoch ethos.”

Roosegaarde will return to Perth in November to present his digital projection artwork titled Waterlicht at the 2019 Fremantle Biennale.