The Visionary Existence Laboratory is the main conceptual platform for the art of contemporary artist Carl-Erik Engqvist. From the perspective of a scientific preacher or a corporate shaman Engqvist engages himself with research concerning the potential of virtual realities, bio-, nano- and robot technology.

Combining his background of theology with ideas revolving around technological development, corporate structures and scientific breakthroughs Engqvist tries to create hybrids and symbiotic states that represents contemporary and future uses of the concept of the sacred but also the spiritual realm in itself.

He is the creator of The Visionary Existence Laboratory, the initiator to Dataspelsgruppen and co-founder and member of Gallery Maskinen. Currently he is working at HUMlab, an interdisciplinary digital humanities laboratory based in the north of Sweden.

The Visionary Existence Laboratory in itself functions as a mobile studio laboratory focusing on the meetings between art and technology. The laboratory is interested in questions related to robotechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and virtual worlds.

These four technological areas has an inherent potential in questioning and redefining such fundamental concepts as identity, consciousness, community and also what we consider being human.

In order to contribute to an open democratic development of these technologies and their impact on fundamental concepts it is relevant that different perspectives meet and collaborate, both theoretically and practically.

This is the essence of The Visionary Existence Laboratory and with that as a starting point the laboratory has four basic objectives:

1. Develop methods that facilitate meetings between artists, engineers, designers and researchers.

2. To function as a multidisciplinary platform for artistic work with a focus on robotechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and virtual worlds.

3. That from an artistic point of view using new technology and scientific knowledge to investigate existential, spiritual, ethical, religious, social, environmental and political issues.

4. Continuously challenge traditional artistic work through multidisciplinary projects and collaborations.