Felix Kraus founded the fictitious artist group Swan Collective in 2007 to resist being pigeonholed as an artist. Besides painting, his creative endeavors through the collective include virtual and augmented reality experiences, films, and music. In 2024, Kraus published his debut novel LEXI.exe under the Swan Collective banner with Shift Books in Berlin. The novel provides a glimpse into the near future, exploring the impact of technological developments through a tragicomic love story.
In LEXI.exe, young artist Lexi van Dijk goes to extremes in her bold performances. After a negligent accident in which she seriously injures an influencer, she abandons her career and seeks solace in nature. Amidst pigs and chickens, her quest for redemption is disrupted by an unexpected encounter with artificial intelligence, turning her life upside down. Caught between two realities, she is forced to reevaluate her understanding of love, physicality, and the very foundations of her existence.
Through its works, Swan Collective continually challenges audiences to ponder the question: When does real life begin in the digital realm? Despite the proliferation of virtual experiences, the collective underscores that a creative body made of flesh and blood can offer the greatest resistance.
This event is presented in collaboration with Literaturhaus Berlin as part of the “Li-Be for the City” tour. While Literaturhaus Berlin undergoes renovations, it brings its programs to various districts of Berlin for 18 months.