Page Not Found and the Master Experimental Publishing (XPUB) at the Piet Zwart Institute, Willem de Kooning Academy, welcome you to the festive launch of Special Issue #17: “THIS BOX FOUND YOU FOR A REASON”.

The publication marks the end of a research process exploring gamification in its many forms. Life and work are ‘gamified’ through social media, dating apps, and fitness apps designed to increase motivation and productivity. Gamification blurs the lines between play, leisure and labour, to release our collective dopamine for profit. On the other hand, games provide necessary down time and relaxation, helping people function in a largely dysfunctional economy and society. The form of the publication reworks the figure of the loot box, a particular, typically virtual, predatory monetisation scheme. Special Issue #17 is co-published by Page Not Found and the XPUB students.

The launch features presentations by the XPUB students and a discussion with Sepp Eckenhaussen and Koen Bartijn, directors of Platform BK. They will engage in conversation on the economics of the publication, and on larger questions of how the labour of artists and designers is valued and what structures, guidelines and policies can help (small scale) institutions ensure that these practices remain sustainable. Platform BK researches the role of art in society and takes action for a better art policy.

This is a free event.

Photo: Louisa Teichmann.