Karen Wuytens

Dr. Karen Wuytens is a lecturer and researcher at the PXL-MAD School of Arts in Hasselt. Her academic journey commenced with a profound interest in artistic education and the design process in and of itself. In 2014, she successfully completed her PhD, titled ‘Redefining Designing and the Development of a Design Model for Designers of Jewelry and Objects.’

In her postgraduate research, she focused on the importance of holistic design. This resulted in several concrete designs of functional products and accessories, always with the characteristic attention to detail of a jewellery designer and with a relevant use of craft and technique.

More recently, her research has shifted to the meaning and status objects acquire within a given context. For instance, the placement of an object on a pedestal renders it an art object, or even two identical jackets may convey distinct narratives due to their distinct ownership.

Amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen introduced a new dimension to her research, centering on the theme of mortality and coping with loss. Herein, she scrutinizes the paradoxical role that objects can assume. Objects can poignantly evoke the absence of a deceased individual, while simultaneously serving as metonymies that invoke the memory of that person. Objects that were often previously unnoticed in their obviousness suddenly take on a new value and carry memories within them.

Additionally, Karen explores specifically designed artifacts often intertwined with rituals and crafted in accordance with cultural traditions. These serve as compelling starting points for the creation of contemporary and relevant variants.