Making Things Public

In his project Making Things Public, Lieven De Boeck is carrying out research into ‘housing': the physical and emotional experience of inhabiting and organizing a space for private use.

De Boeck approaches ‘dwelling’ from a whole range of viewpoints and invited a number of fellow artists and authors to make a personal contribution based on the project’s theme (see the program for details).

The installation Making Things Public is based on two parallel books by Lieven De Boeck, Wonen and Housing, which were recently published by the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht. In these publications, Lieven De Boeck presents his research into alternative concepts of the time, place and space which frame our living environments, our domiciles, with contributions from fellow authors and artists. The book comprises a series of drawings, designs, texts, and stories, deconstructing traditional habitats into fragments and using these fragments to devise systems and ideas to “re-inhabit”.

The installation being shown in Witte de With is a three-dimensional translation of one of the typologies that Lieven De Boeck examines in his books. The design of this typology is based on an ideal storage system. The basis of the installation is a cube measuring 3 x 3 x 3 metres. This cube is constructed from a number of apparently standardized cupboards and storage systems which can be reassembled in order to create a new space.

The installation was designed and produced in association with Ann Clicteur specially for Witte de With. The cube with storage systems was made as a prototype and will be presented as such. In order to be able to place the thinking behind the installation in a broader context, Lieven De Boeck has developed a diverse program of performances and lectures as part of his installation. In addition, a number of earlier works by Lieven De Boeck will be presented.

Making Things Public Program:

Saturday, April 3, 6:15 p.m. (opening)
performance in the installation by Lieven De Boeck, Jannah Loontjes, Johnny Golding, and Suchan Kinoshita

Sunday, April 4, 3 p.m.
It’s a wonderful life, lecture by Johnny Golding based on her contribution to the book Housing

Saturday, April 10, 3 p.m.
Interior, lecture by Kersten Geers on relations between the work of Lieven De Boeck and the work of Alison and Peter Smithson concerning the theme of “inhabitation”.

Saturday, April 17, 5 p.m.
Home Call, lecture by Wouter Davidts about the work of Lieven De Boeck in the context of the visual arts

Sunday, April 18, 3 p.m.
performance by Suchan Kinoshita

Saturday, April 24, 3 p.m.
Line of Desertion, performance by Lieven De Boeck

Sunday, April 25, 3 p.m.
Traces of Memories, book presentation by Lieven De Boeck and John Murphy

Sunday, May 16, 3 p.m.
Housing, book presentation and lecture by Lieven De Boeck

Publication: Housing (Wonen)

Lieven De Boeck (editor)
Jan van Eyck Academy, Maastricht, 2003
ISBN 90-72076-22-2
Euro 19,-
More information: www.janvaneyck.nl