AVL has always supported a culturally rich and diverse
environment. Whether by sponsoring existing art
institutions and festivals, or by actively engaging artists,
musicians, dancers, or other performers to enrich and
enliven the AVL community including our partners and
clients.
he creation of the AVL Cultural Foundation by Kathryn
and Helmut List in fall 2007 has intensified and focused
these activities in pursuit of a platform that creatively
intermingles artistic endeavors with science and technolo-
gy. Since then, a dynamic mix of programs, disciplines, and
participating persons provides a context that aims to inspire
innovation and dialog.
Why does the AVL Cultural Foundation focus on the dialog
between art and technology?
The AVL Cultural Foundation encourages the dialog between
artists and AVL engineers and technology experts. Often, we
have managed to make AVL technology available to artists,
and they use this technology to create new works of art.
This also gives us an opportunity to see AVL’s work through
different eyes, since art uses and values the technology in a
completely different way. I think that is very empowering for
both sides.
What value can be derived from that?
The technologies and innovations that AVL offers the industry
always include the end users as a vital part of the vision. The
user point of view is always subjective, reflecting their current
condition. The perceived value of technology as environmen-
tally friendly or safe (as in ADAS) is always critical to user
experience. Insight into and respect for the people who will be
using or be affected by new developments are at the center of
decision-making. And this is where art comes into play, since
interaction with art is always subjective. The artists give us
new perspectives on our technologies and thereby raise our
awareness of the responsibility we have as a company.
Both art and innovation thrive on creativity. What is the sig-
nificance of creativity for you personally?
For me, creativity means the freedom to reflect on our lives
and imagine a more beautiful world. In doing so we also
confront the difficult aspects of living in an imperfect world. It
is a courageous undertaking. But it is a necessary part of our
efforts to shape a better future.
PROF. HELMUT LIST, Co-Founder and
Advisory Board Member of the AVL Cultural Foundation
“Imagination, flexibility, and the
expression of profound human
creativity are what innovation is
all about. The exchange with art
facilitates a broad perspective of the
world and our society in a design
language that is very different
from technology. This strengthens
the openness to engage with the
unknown, to explore emotions,
and to translate this back into
technology’s own sphere of life
and application. New solutions are
always the result of exchange and
dialog.”
Interview with
Kathryn List
SPECIAL EDITION