Live Happily
2012
TILBURG - This proposal was developed for a festival called Incubate 2012. I was invited by curator Merijn Denkers to develop a concept for the 'open source expo'. Their goal was to attract at least 200 artists to exhibit their work (without payment) in a large exhibition hall ('koepelhal') near the city centre of Tilburg.
LIVE HAPPILY - The atmosphere of many artworks in this big art venue, I imagined, would feel like a real art fair. To add meaning to this situation, I decided to use the corporate language of these fairs. Most of all I was interested in the intentions of the artists who agreed to exhibit their work under these circumstances.
ILLY - To operate embedded in this context, I proposed to build a booth like the famous coffee brand 'Illy' does in these art fair settings. I replaced 'Illy' for the '.ORG'. Referring to 'The organisation' that I founded in 2011, in order to make means and knowledge available for the cultural innovation of society.
BMW - Part of my proposal was the introduction of an art prize. 10 participating artists would be shortlisted for the '.ORG art prize'. Only one talented winner could get the honour of winning a sparkling white 'BMW'. A brand that also often likes to show itself in the context of art fairs.
During the show a live interview program would be organized in this booth. 'Fontys Hogeschool' students would ask the artists about their intentions to participate in the exhibition. Headsets would be available in this booth, which offered visitors a guided tour through the exhibition.
This proposal was based on a collaboration and co-creation with 'Fontys University of Applied Sciences' and local businesses as 'Renova BMW' in Tilburg. At the end of June 2012, the preparations for 'Live Happily' were cancelled. Mainly because the promised budget was missing. Other attempts to find resources failed. The exhibition of artworks, by more than 200 artists who were not paid for their work, continued without 'Live Happily'. Entrance for this show was free.
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Best regards, Edwin Stolk.
