De Vertragende Blik
Discover the creative projects that will enhance the ex-industrial area of Utrecht
How to regenerate an ex-industrial area? Thought art, of course!
Last summer, Utrecht launched an open call inviting artists and creative entrepreneurs to shape artistic interventions in the Historic Urban Area (HUA) of the Werkspoorkwartier. This initiative, driven by the art committee of HUB-IN Utrecht, the Bedrijvenkring Cartesiusweg (BKC), aimed to support local talents in developing artistic products and services contributing to the collective aspirations of the Werkspoorkwartier.
This summer, travel to Utrecht and visit the Werkspoorkwartier
Each one of the four winners will receive a budget to realise the awarded project by summer 2024. Plans include presenting the remaining submissions through an audio tour incorporating the artworks, and possibly creating an entire art route in the area through additional funds and lobbying efforts.
The winners are:
- Bas Ousosoren (De Havenloods), De Krul (The Curl) – A wooden – technically challenging – approval curl for the Werkspoorkwartier. Beautiful in its simplicity and gesture.
- Jonathan Straatman & Colin Benders (De Nijverheid and Werkspoorfabriek), Een Auto (A Car) – An exciting object that can move through the Werkspoorkwartier.
- Taco Jansonius & Daniël Roozendaal (Hof van Cartesius), De Vertragende Blik (The Slowing Gaze) – An interdisciplinary collaboration consisting of visually strong, graphic interventions that encourage slower driving. A project that was unanimously chosen.
- Etta Harkness Bartholdi and Roel Weerdenburg (De Haventuin), Rusted Roots – An overgrown steel pergola that refers to the history of the Werkspoorkwartier and can become a green meeting place.
The open call had several objectives:
- Realizing high-quality artistic expressions that remain sustainably visible within and become part of the Werkspoorkwartier.
- Making the Werkspoorkwartier more attractive and inviting for visitors.
- Exploring and making tangible the history and cultural heritage of the Werkspoorkwartier area as inspiration for its further development.
- Telling the story of modern creative work(s) in the Werkspoorkwartier.
- Facilitating the existing cultural entrepreneurs and artists in their professionalization and innovation of their products and services.
- Promoting the creation of sustainable and scalable artistic products and skills in the area.
- Improving collaboration among existing companies in the Werkspoorkwartier and strengthening the network of creative entrepreneurs.
- Connecting the Werkspoorkwartier with similar areas in other European cities, thereby shaping and giving substance to the European dimension of the area.
- Currently, the artworks are in development. The art committee of the BKC will support the creators and the municipality to ensure a beautiful distribution of locations throughout the area.
Find out more about Utrecht’s HUB-IN here!
