Leidse Rijn Beyond, Utrecht 2004 in collaboration with Korteknie and Stuhlmacher architects
Concept & development by Bik Van der Pol in collaboration with Korteknie & Stuhlmacher architects A mobile studio for artists is, in a certain sense, a paradox. Artists are more mobile than ever, and their working spaces rarely permanent. Their working space is in their head, in their social relationships and the research they engage with. Worldwide, a larger and larger growing network of temporary workspaces and residencies provides artists with the necessary possibility to be able to keep moving. Ideas and projects being developed and quite often in close collaboration and interaction with others - become activated in an increasingly fluctuating movement between global and local. These movements however, are not possible without an existing hospitality, generosity and trust. That is why residencies, unconditionally open to others, fulfill an important role, contrary to the current tendencies and therefore implicitly political: 'on the move', and putting aside the borders of disciplines, communities and nations. These notions were taken into account during the development for the mobile studio, andtranslated in a generous gesture: an open flexible space for artists, architects, writers, and thinkers. The space literally breathes a possibility for exchange of ideas. Big doors can be used as door, wall or podium. The mobile studio is based on the example of the ultimate travel kit - the container but with its sizes of 18 x 4 x 3,4 meter quite a bit bigger and exactly within the maximum sizes allowed to transport the structure on the public road. In May 2004 the mobile studio traveled through the newly built city extension Leidse Rijn near Utrecht. As part of the municipal art program 'Beyond', invited artists and designers use this residency to observe, research and constructively comment on the growing and rapidly changing area from various perspectives. In 2009 Beyond ended its activities. Since then the mobile studio was taken care of by Cultuur 19. In 2019 'the nomad' moved to Metaal Kathedraal in Utrecht, where it will function as a living/working studio and as gateway to the heart of the nearby food forest.
