Eileen: Presentation UvA/GRA Honours Programme: Art and Research
8 February – 9 February 2020

In January, for the second time Looiersgracht 60 will present the final show of the Honours programme Art and Research given by the University of Amsterdam and The Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Twenty-three outstanding students were selected from both institutions to spend fourteen months pursuing project-based artistic and academic research, guided by distinguished lecturers and industry professionals.

The programme draws upon the parallels between scientific and artistic investigations, and encourages participants to challenge traditions and develop unconventional methodologies and innovative forms of presenting results. Working in small interdisciplinary groups, this year’s students explored six separate yet connected themes concerning Object Agency, Discomfort, Free Speech in Public Space, the Microbiome, Sound, and Water Crisis.

To conclude their interdisciplinary programme, the graduating students have organised an exhibition entitled ‘Eileen’, which uncovers the results of an exploration of the borders between art and scholarly research. ‘Eileen’ will be hosted by Looiersgracht 60, and will be accompanied by a publication detailing the participants’ research. The exhibit has been accomplished under the supervision of Paula Albuquerque (researcher and artist), Mariani Lanari (artist) and Dr. Dos Elshout, and has been curated by Miriam Wistreich.

Looiersgracht 60, The University of Amsterdam and The Gerrit Rietveld Academie have come together in collaboration in order to create an opportunity for young artists and recent graduates to exhibit their work. This is one of Looiersgracht 60's core concerns, so we are pleased to host the final exhibition of the Honours Programme Art and Research.

This year, the research projects include:

Microself
By Renée van Zadelhoff, Maud Keunen and Eva van Rossum.

The human body contains as many microbial cells as human cells. This research project explores the ways in which people conceptualize their identity in the most physical sense of self. Through the analyses of their faeces, the researchers sought to get in touch with the millions of microbes they host and which co-create them. By gaining an understanding of their own ecosystem, the researchers explore notions of selfhood, privacy and ownership.

Soundscape
By Anouk Slewe, Georgina David, Nell Schwan and Arthur Meijer.

This project explores the potential and limits of our sensory capacities, such as the healing and destructive properties of sound and sight. It takes into consideration the non-aural perception of sound: sound as a seeing visual for the non-sighted. As well as sound as a tactile medium for the deaf. The project examines these inquiries within the context of the wider societal implications and trends of the digital era.

Wildplakzuilen
By Irene de Gelder, Maria Langerhorst, Charlie Jansen and Herman Hjorth Berge.

From the ‘Wij Zijn Hier’ signs in Bijlmer to birdhouses in De Pijp, lampposts in the Jordaan to public pillars in Hoofddorppleinbuurt and the contemporary urban planning of Slotermeer, this project explores the questions: ‘How public is the public space?’ and ‘What is permitted in our shared spaces?’

R.A.D.D.
Lene Antonopoulos, Charles Debord, Dewi Kopp and Sofie Boiten.

The R.A.D.D. Research Association for Displeasure and Discomfort is an independent organisation specifically focussing on the perception of discomfort and displeasure in spaces, situations and interactions that people, places and things engage with every day. The project considers perception to be a constructed landscape, which conditions how we understand the world around us, influences our personal reaction to a particular place and mediates affective content.

Archaeology
By Annemijn Kluft, Iris Hofstee, Imre Korpadi and Sam Chua.

Digging into history bears many similarities to an archaeological dig: unearthing layers of sediments and minerals to excavate meaning in the form of ‘objects’. This project investigates the idea of ‘ground’ as an archive and repertoire of knowledge. Going beyond its physical dimension, the ‘ground’ is a place of collection, rest, and recirculation.

Floating Platform
By Rots Brouwer, Mathilde Clerc-Verhoeven, Pepijn Meurs and Joana Velu.

Floating Platform researches the connection between water and social issues, including mobility, migration and climate change. The platform is both a physical and virtual space. It is a floating surface made from recycled material combined with an online website in which research findings, interviews and other materials are published. As part of the project, the researchers invited and interviewed people with different relations with and perspectives on water.

Programme:

Opening: Friday 7th February, 5-8pm
Opening hours: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th February, 12-8pm

Interested visitors are also warmly invited to attend public programme:

Saturday 8th of February

14:00
Public conversation with the students of Art and Research and Florian Göttke
The students delve into their projects in conversation with visual artist, researcher and writer Florian Göttke.

Sunday 9th of February

12:00
Workshop: Stick up for sticking up
Our cities graphic domain has become dominated by commercial advertisements, leaving little space for citizens to shape their own cities. In this workshop we will inform you on how to legally leave your mark in Amsterdam’s public space by sticking up posters on Dutch poster pillars, Wildplakzuilen. We will create our own posters in the Gallery which we will collectively post on the Westermarkt wildplakzuil, covering commercial advertisers with our own posters and taking back our city.

14:00
Podcast: Floating Platform
Floating Platform researches the connection between water and social issues such as mobility, migration and climate. We explore where themes intersect and create podcasts in which they flow into each other. For this exhibition, we will tie our platform to the walls of Looiersgracht 60. We will dive into their cellar’s icy history and the struggle against water the gallery faces today.