Iconic Star Wars robot to feature in new V&A exhibition
The R2-D2 prop's just one of attractions at the waterfront museum's upcoming exhibition - 'Hello, Robot'.
From a galaxy far, far, away to the V&A - an original R2-D2 prop from the first Star Wars film will feature at the waterfront museum’s next major exhibition.
‘Hello, Robot. Design Between Human and Machine’ will look at the revolution of robotic design.
Visitors will be taken through four stages of robot influence and evolution.
The first will focus on the science and fiction of robots and how popular culture has shaped people’s feelings about them.
George Lucas’s iconic R2-D2 from the Star Wars franchise and the robot from Fritz Lang’s 1926 Epic Metropolis will be on display.
Furthermore, there will be toys from the past 60 years and visitors will get to explore their first experiences of robots.
The exhibition also looks into the world of industry and work as well as the idea that robotic technology poses a threat to jobs.
Similarly, the third section will show how robots are increasingly becoming household helpers and digital companions.
The final part turns to the blurring of boundaries between humans and robots – from hi-tech fashion that can sense danger to the idea of robotic architecture and smart cities.
The Spider Dress 2.0 by Dutch hi-tech fashion designer Anouk Wipprecht will be on display as part of this.
Kirsty Hassard, V&A Dundee Curator, said: “Robots are part of our everyday and not a moment goes by without new developments in robotic technology.
“How and where we encounter robots, the sort of relationships we form with them, and how we interact with them – or they with us – is no longer the exclusive domain of engineers and IT experts. Designers are now often at the centre of these decisions.
“This is an exciting time, and the right moment to be asking big questions about the role robots should and will play in all our lives.”
Hello, Robot. Design Between Human and Machine will run from the 2nd of November, 2019 to the 9th of February 2020.
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