What is NEXT?

NEXT is an initiative designed to encourage the interdisciplinary exploration of megatrends across the arts, science, and technology. Focusing on megatrends which affect society at large, the initiative is designed to support collaboration with forward-thinking artists and institutions committed to new forms of cultural production (i.e. visual arts, film, music, dance, etc.) at the vanguard of scientific research and technological development – which are both drivers of progress and at the core of our thematic NextGen approach.

The 2023 ‘NEXT’ commission - Refik Anadol

For the initiative’s first project, Julius Baer commissioned internationally renowned digital artist Refik Anadol. The pre-eminent new-media artist and pioneer in aesthetics of data machine intelligence will create an immersive experience that will be unveiled over several chapters and launched at Art Dubai in March 2023. Julius Baer has been a lead partner of Art Dubai since 2015.

Refik Anadol is a Turkish-American media artist, director, and pioneer in the aesthetics of data and machine intelligence based in Los Angeles. His body of work locates creativity at the intersection of humans and machines. He was appointed by a dedicated Curatorial Board advised by the artistic director of the Serpentine Hans Ulrich Obrist.

Philipp Rickenbacher: “Supporting upcoming currents in art is an integral part of Julius Baer’s DNA, and the exploration of the trends that shape our future is inherent to our role as a wealth manager. Partnering with foresighted individuals like Refik Anadol and institutions like the Serpentine to amplify innovation and progress mirrors our purpose of creating value beyond wealth.”