HASSELT 0.
Two weeks ago, while I was deciding to come visit my sister in Belgium; I reconnected with Marlies - a former friend from Uni whom I admired, and with whom I connected some 7 years ago, as we were about to participate in a design proposal in Brick Lane.
I knew with certainty that she would be up to no good - that is: running her own show and pursuing her passion for drawings. Though, I expected her, to either work for some fancy name, or to prepare some wacky (yet amazingly pleasing to the eye) winning-projects under her own label; I could certainly not imagine her (no offence to be taken) to be living in a container hunting one of the most complex species of animals.
Her and a newly found partner in crime; Remy; have, two years ago co-founded the label: Dear Hunter. They are specialised in human beings, and spend their time observing and analysing the animal in its habitat to create solutions or propose development strategies. Last year, they created the Euregi project; by converting two containers into living-pods to go explore five cities of the Meuse-Rhine Region (Euregio) over the course of two years; working hands-in-hands with local municipalities to conduct research or understand the use given to parts of the city.
It is out of pure-luck that I bumped into the lot, when being dumped in Hasselt. We caught up like old-times and caught a beer over a harbour, near their newly placed home. Through the course of the evening, I tried to evaluate and understand their current project - its possibilities, its limits, its freedom, their interests as well as their professional partnership.
Already bought by the idea before meeting them; I was simply overwhelmed with the thoughts and chances to develop my own project(s) while in the city. Currently assigned to “understand” or “analyse” the city-ring of Hasselt, my brain was already in motion. Numerous projects were offered, and though they very much like my letter of candidature; I was also given the choice to work with two projects. The first (ARCH-EN-TROP) is an architectural anthropology of Hasselt’s Green Boulevard’s buildings. For which I hope to draw, a catalogue of the city-ring’s constructions.This, I hope, will help me understand the city through its architecture in order to establish new rules for its citizens. The second project (HASSELT?) is to reimagine the Green Boulevard in order to open the discussion to its hidden possibilities. I aim to generate a map, mixed with love letters, historical facts, fantasies and sketches of the potential ring it could be/ become. While the first may be purely theoretical and result to a visual anthropology and/or an article comprising datas. The second is more artistic and offer some visionary demands, which could stem from the former investigation.
I have spent most days of this week (while in Amsterdam, and since my return) to develop, research and prepare these two ideas. I now look forward to be working later today with them both, while I will pretend to act like a responsible adult again.