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Plantoid
Dewi Brunet is an artist who specialises in folding techniques in a variety of materials and applications. His current work is at the intersection of ecology and technology, with a focus on robot folding (or Oribotics). A field of research where nature, origami and robotics converge. The installation Plantoid invites you into an ecosystem of plant-inspired robots.
Folding is an ancient technique that gives material a shape memory. Today, the craft is only practised by a few specialised studios, often in haute couture. Yet its relevance is much greater: think of mathematical applications in architecture or even the James Webb telescope, which could be unfolded in space thanks to folding technology. Dewi Brunet is breathing new life into this disappearing knowledge. Not only does he work with a wide range of materials, from paper and textiles to biomaterials, but he also seeks ways to innovate, preserve and pass on the craft, for example by designing alternatives to the costly and fragile moulds using digital and laser-cutting techniques.
I consider folding to be a technique, a medium of expression, and a multidisciplinary field of research.
Dewi Brunet is an artist who has been exploring the art of folding for more than fifteen years. Self-taught and working at the intersection of architecture, fashion, design, art and robotics, he explores the relationship between the living world and technology. He focuses in particular on the field of origami robotics (Oribotica) and explores its aesthetic, technical and philosophical dimensions.
Folding is at the heart of his practice. It is an ancient technique that gives materials a memory and creates structures that are both functional and poetic. Using paper, textiles and even mycelium, Brunet breathes new life into this almost forgotten craft. In this way, folding becomes more than a technique, but also a means of expression and a multidisciplinary field of research.
For Plantoid, Dewi Brunet is collaborating with the DEFROST team at INRIA (University of Lille), which specialises in soft robotics. This team researches the design, development and control of deformable robots. Together, they are exploring how the relationship between the living world and technology is evolving and taking on new forms. The installation consists of Substrate, a large paper structure, and spherical and conical folding robots – Oribotic W1 and Eclosion – that move organically, almost as if they were breathing. They form an ecosystem of robot plants that respond to their environment. The sound of rustling leaves, mechanical sounds and folded paper echoes throughout. The result is a landscape reminiscent of a volcano, the ocean floor or an alien planet – and perhaps a harbinger of tomorrow's Earth.
Anyone wishing to view Dewi Brunet's work can visit Texture Kortrijk from 16 October to 4 January 2026. From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
EXTRA: On Sunday 23rd November, Dewi will be holding a 'behind the folds' event at Texture, as part of Science Day, where you can literally take a look under the artwork. You will discover how sensors, motors and folding structures work together to control the life of Plantoid. On 9 and 10 May 2026, we will also be organising a two-day masterclass on folding techniques and digital laser cutting.
This installation is part of the Tablescapes programme: Between pleat and prestige, an exhibition in the Texture Treasure Room from 26 September 2025. As collection presentation #6, it shows a selection from the museum's unique historical damask collection, in dialogue with contemporary work by master pleater Joan Sallas and textile designer Emilie Palle Holm.
experience Plantoid
