Sylvia Schwenk is currently undertaking a two month fellowship at the Künstlerdorf Schöppingen in Germany. As part of this fellowship, Schwenk has received a commission to be a part of the project Stadtbesetzung: bodies in urban spaces and create a new work of socially engaged performance art, title ’emoji art’.

Pictorial symbols are one of the oldest forms of human expression. emoji – today’s visual language – are international images embedded in our cultural behaviour and communication, often replacing gestures and words in digital conversation.

In recognising the significance and playfulness of how we relate to each other in the digital age, Schwenk will work with the local community of Schöppingen to create ‘emoji art’ using human bodies. This performance, like emoji, will connect people and enhance communication across cultural and language barriers.

Sylvia will hold a workshop with the local community to develop an emoji that reflects Schöppingen. This emoji and one of the most popular emojis of 2016 will be presented as a work of socially engaged performance art.