BioArt Laboratories x DDW 2019:
The Symbiocene Forest

We are honored that BioArt Laboratories is one of the hotspots for Dutch Design Week this year! As such, we are included into the Bio Design route. Visitors can reach our location by use of hop-on hop-off buses from Strijp-S. The program and theme of this year’s exposition and events are introduced below.

The Symbiocene Forest

At our off-grid location, we jump from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene: from a human-centered worldview, to a place where all humans, nature and technology are working together, symbiotic. Hence, we adapt the key principles of the Symbiocene: full circularity, elimination of toxic substances, the complete and safe biodegradability of all materials and organic integration of technology with physical and living systems. Our old bunker complex, the laboratory workplace and the rural environment outside will form the scenery of the Symbiocene Forest through exhibitions and activities. Extra festive is that BioArt Laboratories founder Jalila Essaïdi is one of the ambassadors of the Dutch Design Week this year. That must be celebrated! Hence, all kinds of special activities take place on the entire BioArt Village site.

Talent Pressure Cooker

Each year, we present an open call for talents who want to present their work at BioArt Laboratories during the Dutch Design Week. This year, we are proud to announce a talented group of creative makers, ranging from product developers to architects. You can find a list of our participating artists here.  

Next to our Talent Pressure Cooker exhibition, we host various activities throughout the week:

18th of October 13:30-17:00

The Symbiocene Forest 

Opening exhibition

We officially open the gates of “The Symbiocene Forest” and give the starting signal for Dutch Design Week 2019 in BioArt Village. With speakers: Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, Ad van Riel (REASeuro), Christophe Lasseur (MELiSSA), István Kenyeres (Biopolus), and Erik de Ridder (watergrave of the Dommel water board). Subsequently, there is a panel discussion and presentation of our talents about future problems and solutions to water issues.

All Week 11.00 – 18.00

Guided Tours

Did you know that BioArt Village actually consists of bunkers from the second World War, and that soldiers from all over the Netherlands got their drivers license there? You will learn all that and more during the guided tours that start at the entrance, all day long.

19th of October 13:00-14:30

Dutch Design Foundation X BioArt Laboratories

Debate | de Impact en waarde van creatieve broedplaatsen    (Dutch) 

Creative hubs, such as BioArt Laboratories, have great cultural, ecological and social value. However, how do we define the value and impact of such places? Moderator debate: Desiree Hoving. With a spirited column by philosopher Victor Gijsbers (Leiden University), interview with Jalila Essaidi, debate with Eva de Klerk (NDSM yard), Martijn Braamhaar (Bureau Broedplaatsen Amsterdam) and Bart de Zwart (Fontys).

20^th of October 13.00

Arboreum Digitalus

Product launch

Launch of Arboretum Digitalus. Product unveiling #paythetrees: Arboretumdigitalus.com by Joshua Kelly

23th of October 10.00 – 12.00

Lectures | Responsibility in Engineering Life

Lecture 1: Complicating Complexity: social concerns on engineering life by Laurens Landeweert.

Lecture 2: Of genetic safeguards, chassis cells and artistic interventions: Responsible research and innovation in the SafeChassis project By Amalia Kallergi.

In collaboration with TU Delft and IDEA League

23th of October 13:00-15:00

Intangible Heritage: stories to be told   (Dutch)

Storytelling

Former refugees and local youth will take you on a journey throughout personal stories, told in creative ways. Whereas all performers have the most various backgrounds and lives, they are connected by the central theme of their stories: water. In collaboration with IamNL, Dynamo and artist Monique Smulders

26th of October 15:00-16:30

The Green Illusion? 

Lecture: Fact and fiction in sustainable enery

Maarten van Andel, director of Fontys natural sciences and author of the book ‘De Groene Illusie’, will give a lecture about the facts and fictions in sustainable energy and the relationship between sustainable energy and circular economics.

19, 20, 23, 26, 27^th of October

Tree Antenna

Live experiment

The symbiocene in practice: enhancing radio signals through the life-essence of trees. An ongoing experiment which will teach you all about this tree-based communication. In collaboration with VERON and Fontys Biology.

24, 25, 26, 27th of October

BioArt Laboratories x Fontys: The Case 2019

Live experiment

Students from Fontys demonstrate various solutions to a serious problem: increasing medicine residue in our drinking water.

All Week
Think like an Astronaut – a Studio Voordenberg video concept

Movie

In these uncertain times of climate change and the growing world population, people are challenged to look for bold and innovative ways to rethink the way we treat our resources. What if humankind was to regard Earth just as an astronaut would look at his spaceship? In this series we will explore how his mindset and technology can help us on our mission to make the Earth more sustainable. A collaboration between Biopolus, ESA, Melissa Foundation, SEMiLLA IPStar en Waterschap De Dommel.

19,20th of October

Eindhoven Circular Challenge

The Circular Challenge is an intensive six-week process in which multidisciplinary teams make a circular product from a concrete, worthless residual flow from a participating organization. In the exhibition last years Circulaire Challenge Winner: Blue Roof – Waterweg

All Week

The Shoemuseum – A Walk on Water 

Exhibition of special materials and (water) shoes in the Cabinet of Wonder.

Location: Lab-1

All Week

Research in Immersive Storytelling – human non- human

This programme is part of the Communication & Multimedia Design at the School for Communication and User Experience in Breda. The minor Research in Immersive Storytelling is a collaboration with the Academy of Fine Art and Design St. Joost in Breda.

All Week

Book preesntation: Glowing Places

In her book “From hopeless to Hotspot” (2019), Sandra Poelman reveals 33 secrets of people -orented area development. Do you dream of transforminga place of decline and vacancy into a lively and dynamic place with added value for society? Then this book is an indispensable toolbox for you.