The main stage at Porsche SCOPES may need more grass. Before festivities even begin, it’s already made for a peculiar setting for Vancouver-born interdisciplinary artist Alyssa Alikpala, whose environmental installation’s sheets of vivid green grass share space with urban walls. And that’s without mentioning the Porsche branding within the venue—wholly man-made.

The manufactured aesthetic is somewhat out of place against the untamed edges of Alikpala’s work. But as the artist notes, the strength of the three-day festival—celebrating local pioneers in art, design, music, tech and culture—lies in its multidisciplinary approach.

“I think it’s really easy for artists, designers and musicians to stay within their specific sort of communities, but this kind of programming broadens the audience,” says Alikpala, whose art merges nature with urban spaces. “Someone might come specifically for a performance, but they’ll also experience an installation they wouldn’t have sought out otherwise.”

This year, from October 24 to 26, an industrial-chic enclave in Toronto will become the latest destination to host one of the world’s more modern art and music festivals. Located at 501 Alliance Avenue in York, Porsche SCOPES Toronto will be part immersive art exhibition, part live concert series and part cinematic experience.

Though the free event is relatively new by festival standards—this edition marks its North American debut—SCOPES Toronto has already drawn a vibrant mix of local talent. Headlining the festival are DVSN, along with artist and designer Steff Eleoff, who will present an ambitious take on the “silver drip” aesthetic via her installation featuring the all-electric Porsche Taycan 4S. The lineup also includes acclaimed musician SadBoi, rising stars like Angelphroot & Dameer and eight others.

“As an artist, sometimes I feel I have to be picky with the projects I take on since they often require some level of compromise. But after my initial conversation with Porsche SCOPES creative director Jan Bügers, he spoke about how they wanted to work with artists by letting them do what they want to,” says Alikpala. “That sounded great, because there’s always some hesitation at times when working on commercial projects, and I think a lot of other artists and designers can relate to that.”

The first Porsche SCOPES was hosted in 2018 in Berlin. It was produced by the vehicle manufacturer’s marketing and creative teams, led by chief marketing officer Robert Ader, to put on an event that “embodies the essence of Porsche, where innovation and creativity converge.” As much about pro-branding consumerism as it is a fusion of art, the event has already left its mark in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Warsaw and Tel Aviv. In 2021, the festival also hosted a digital edition that highlighted creative talents from Southeast Asia.

The heart of the exhibition lies in its seamlessness, where various mediums work together in interconnected spaces. At past festivals, like the Seoul edition in 2023, organizers transformed a former power plant into a vibrant cultural hub, showcasing over 40 Korean artists through light-strobed music performances and visual art, including Yeonsu Kim’s candle sculpture NINO (Nothing In Nothing Out), an animal-like figure on one side with a contrasting negative form on the other, and hand-like shapes symbolizing human mortality.

This type of environment is particularly appreciated by artists like Alikpala, who value the chance to perform in unique spaces that invite cross-pollination among diverse audiences. “The point of making art, for me, is the opportunity for it to resonate with people in different ways. It’s always been one of the more rewarding parts of making art and putting it out into the world.”

Alikpala’s own installation uses paper made from grass. She emphasizes the importance of process in her art, explaining that spending time with materials and the environment allows for gradual discoveries. “Things are slowly revealed to you,” she says, both for herself and the audience, as hidden aspects of the work emerge over time. 

Her artistic practice underwent a significant transformation during the pandemic. After experiencing burnout in 2019 due to an overwhelming workload, the forced pause of the lockdown allowed her to reflect on and reconnect with her creativity. Spending more time outdoors and focusing on creating without the pressures of deadlines or financial constraints became a pivotal turning point in shaping the direction of her current work.

Enter events like Porsche SCOPES, which Alikpala believes provide artists such as herself the canvas to replicate something unique and unrestricted—not just through traditional artworks to view, but in a way that leaves a lasting impact, thanks to the backing of a well-funded festival. 

“There was one exhibition I did about two years ago, and someone I had never met stayed for at least one or two hours, just sitting and taking in the work. I had seen this person at other shows too, coming back to see the work, which really surprised me,” Alikpala recalls. “We talked, and despite a bit of a language barrier, it was one of those moments that reminded me how art can transcend words—it’s about the shared experience. Seeing the impact my work had on him was humbling and made me reflect on the power of art to connect with others in ways that go beyond language.”