KEYNOTE SPEAKER #1

Jou Min Lin AIA

Principal architect of J.M. Lin Architect / The Observer Design Group

As the principal architect of J.M. Lin Architect / The Observer Design Group, founded in Taipei in 1995, Jou Min Lin led the office specialising in architectural design, interior design, landscape design, communication design and research-based design. Lin's office has transformed several existing historical buildings into functional cultural intuitions. 

To build a better man-made environment in Taiwan, the office has actively worked on projects that deal with public space. Over the years, Lin has established his reputation with brilliant projects of schools, arts-related exhibit spaces, and cultural facilities that bring new possibilities to the built environment. The most remarkable project is Keelung's National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. From 2004 to 2013, Lin successfully transformed an old power plant into a cultural hub of recreation and knowledge.

From December 2014 to 2018, Lin worked for the city of Taipei as the Commissioner of the Department of Urban Development. The shift from a practising architect to a public servant may seem challenging, but Lin's ideas and goals remain the same: strive for solutions to build a better urban environment.

Since December 2018, Jou Min Lin has returned from Taipei City Government to his own practice, continuing to lead the firm's strives for lasting value in Architecture and Design.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER #2

Marco De Mutiis

Digital Curator, Fotomuseum Winterthur - Switzerland

Marco De Mutiis is a Digital Curator at Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland, where he leads the museum research on algorithmic and networked forms of vision and image-making. He leads and co-curates different projects and platforms, expanding the museum's role and space. These include the collaborative live stream programme Screen Walks (developed and co-curated with Jon Uriarte, curator of digital programmes at The Photographers' Gallery in London), as well as the Fotomuseum's current experimental platform [permanent beta] The Lure of the Image.

He is a researcher and doctoral candidate at the Centre for the Study of the Networked Image at South Bank University, where he focuses on the relationship between computer games and photography. With Matteo Bittanti, he co-curated the group exhibition How to Win at Photography – Image-making as Play, exploring the photographic act through the act of play and the notion of games. He has written, edited, and contributed to several publications, including the recent book Screen Images – In-Game Photography, Screenshot, and Screencast (co-edited with Winfried Gerling and Sebastian Möring). He lectures and teaches regularly in different institutions and schools, including Master Photography at ECAL and Camera Arts at Lucerne University of Applied Arts and Design.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER #3

Paulina Florjanowicz, PhD

Director General, National Institute for Museums

Archaeologist, expert in cultural heritage management

Graduated from the Warsaw University (M.A.) and Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PhD), since 2023, Paulina Florjanowicz works as a National Institute for Museums director. She was previously director of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Ministry for Culture and National Heritage (2016-2022).

She has over twenty years of experience in the heritage sector, working for NGOs and public institutions (including National Heritage Institute – director in 2011-2013). Mrs Florjanowicz is a current and former member of national and European expert panels, including Reflection Group "EU and cultural heritage", expert of the European Archaeological Council (EAC), jury member for European Capital of Culture, currently member of the Expert Panel for European Heritage Label, member of the ICOM (ICMS & INTERCOM), European Association of Archaeologists and Board Member of the Network of European Museum Organizations (NEMO).

Researcher in the field of theory of archaeology and its relation to politics. Evaluator in EU programs on education and culture since 2003, academic lecturer in heritage management and museology, and expert in cultural and remembrance policy, museum management, fighting crime against heritage and socio-economic aspects of cultural heritage.