For the exhibition Democracy! at London’s Royal College of Art, we developed “Being There”.
Foundation B.a.d often formulates projects as hosts, offering space and hospitality in its studio complex and creating spaces for exchange. In London, we found ourselves in a new position; we were guests, not hosts. We wanted to arrive with gifts.
During our first visit to London we met several artist groups, architects and designers (Artlab, Tomato, FAT, Muf, Cubitt, Soda and Unit), to talk about their use of common space and compare the different approaches. Once back in Rotterdam, we developed a site specific/responsive gift for each group, based on our impressions and the stories they told us. A month later we returned to London with our gifts. The gifts were presented to each group at the Democracy! exhibition opening. After the exhibition, we returned to London to deliver the gifts and help instal them at their work spaces.
Democracy! Exhibition catalogue, p. 62, text by Tim Hutchinson
Democracy! Exhibition catalogue, p. 63, text by Tim Hutchinson