Now What? Dreaming a better world in six parts
01/11/2003 - 14/12/2003
BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht
www.bak-utrecht.nl
Now What? Dreaming a better world in six parts is a project with a multi-faceted format consisting of six autonomous parts taking place simultaneously (except for the publications) at various locations in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Now What? explores the political potential of dreaming and imagination. Each of the six parts investigates these issues from a particular perspective, and takes different forms, such as exhibitions, performances, and conversations. The project includes the publication of a newspaper and a book of artists writings.
BAK, basis voor actuele kunst provides a base from which each part of the project unfolds through the experimental collaboration with around fifty invited artists, curators, and partners from other disciplines.
part one
On Hope and Other Misunderstandings
exhibition with: Kamal Aljafari, Weronika Althamer, Yael Davids, Gerrit Dekker, Gelatin, Sanja Ivekoviæ, Július Koller, Denisa Lehocká and Boris Ondreièka, Deimantas Narkevièius, Maria Pask, Willem de Rooij and Jane Ostermann-Petersen, Bojan arèeviæ, Jaan Toomik, Lois and Franziska Weinberger, curated by Maria Hlavajova
The exhibition looks at the notion of hope as dreaming forward. The presented works search for ways of emancipating ourselves from the current situation, and point towards the imaginary potentialities for tomorrow.
part two
Fantastic Prophecy
exhibition with: Heather Allen, Fabienne Audéoud and John Russell, Tobias Bernstrup, Phil Collins, Paddy Jolley and Reynold Reynolds, Katarina Löfström, Janice McNab, Arturas Raila, Francesco Vezzoli, curated by Annie Fletcher and Liutauras Psibiliskis
The exhibition Fantastic Prophecy acknowledges the production of fantasy as an articulation of interior life,
while exploring its generative and visionary nature, and its potential to influence reality
part three
The World Question Center (Reloaded)
a public performance after James Lee Byars
curated by Jens Hoffmann
The artists, curators and all the other participants in Now What? have collectively created a list of brilliant minds of our time. In a public performance these individuals are contacted and asked to pose questions through which to grasp the current state of knowledge and concerns about the world.
part four
Forward Thinking
a series of conversations about dreaming a better world
Ole Bouman, Hilde de Bruijn, Ann Demeester, Jellichje Reijnders en Marieke van Rooy in conversation with Michelle Provoost, Apolonija Sustersic, Katie Holten, Piet Joostens, Dennis Kaspori, Lev Manovich, Jennifer Mojica, Vita Zaman, Arun Saldanha, Keith Tester
part five
The Projection
newspaper edited by Anke Bangma, realized in collaboration with Piet Zwart Institute and European Cultural Foundation
part six
Now What? Artists Write!
book of artists writings edited by Mark Kremer, Annie Fletcher, and Maria Hlavajova
Our financial partners:
Mondriaan Stichting; Stichting DOEN; Provincie Utrecht; Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Amsterdam; European Cultural Foundation; Fonds voor beeldende kunsten, vormgeving en bouwkunst; Cultuurfonds van de Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten;Stimuleringsfonds voor Architectuur; Gemeente Utrecht;American Center Foundation; Institut Français des Pays-Bas, Den Haag; Ambassade van Oostenrijk, Den Haag; IASPIS; Cultural Relations Committee, Ireland; The British Council, Amsterdam
