Visual Peacetech

Lisa Glybchenko’s PhD Research “Visual Peacetech: Digital Visual Images as Security-Building Tools” at Tampere University, Finland, explores digital visuality of security and peace, virtual reality holistic design for peace, and the potential of augmented reality technologies to aid in implementing peaceful futures. Being the first-ever thorough academic investigation of peace technologies, the project theorizes “visual peacetech” and develops original artistic-technological tools, which practitioner peacebuilders can start using already now.

“What could happen if developments in digital technology, visual art-making processes and security practices were by design directed at achieving sustaining peace? Could we, then, rightfully speak of ‘peace technology’ – or even ‘visual peace technology’ – as enhancing experiences of security for people in conflict-affected communities? What would the role of digital visual images be in such peace work?

These questions, in their first and most basic form, appeared in my head as, partly due to the pandemic, I found myself increasingly immersed in digital technologies in general and, as my interests go, digital visual art-making. The questions eventually turned into a research plan, which is now the basis of my Ph.D. project summarized here…”

Yelyzaveta (Lisa) Glybchenko

The Visual Peacetech project explores the conceptual and practical potential of performing context-specific digital, virtual and augmented artistic-technology innovations to support multitrack peace processes. This research project is the first systematic study of images in/as peacetech, and it develops the notion of ‘visual peacetech’. Both the academic outcomes and the technological-artistic applications of the project will serve to enhance our understanding of digital visuality of security in/and peace, virtual reality co-design of peace arrangements and implementations of peaceful futures through augmented reality technologies. The methodologically inclined studies within the project will also be insightful for peace practitioners and entrepreneurs looking to include off-digital technologies into their practices in the fields of peacework, politics, democracy-building, art for change, strategic digital communications, and nuanced social work.