October 29, 2011 – February 26, 2012

For several decades artists and designers have been creating futuristic visions of a sustainable society. These innovative future visions are becoming increasingly relevant. There is clearly a great need for a new balance in our living environment. In the exhibition ‘New Energy in Design and Art’ Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen presents numerous innovative experiments in the field of sustainable energy. Artists, designers and progressive thinks play a pioneering role in raising awareness about our relationship with energy. The exhibition contains surprising, strange and unimaginable objects and sculptures. Some are poetic, alienating or ingenious; all are relevant and innovative.

The exhibition includes machines by Gerrit van Bakel (1943-1984) that run on energy derived from the differences in temperature between day and night. The Half Life Lamp by Joris Laarman (1979) consists partly of living organic material and emits light without added energy. Chinese hamster cells have been genetically modified with the bioluminescent genes of a firefly, allowing the lamp to glow by itself.

Sustainable energy plays a central role in the designs of the Austrian duo mischer’traxler. In the project ‘The idea of a tree’ they produced a series of stools based on the energy of a single day of sunlight. The machine begins working at sunrise and completes production of the stool at sunset. Each day results in a different colour pattern and format. The British duo Dunne & Raby are exhibiting 3D models, photographs and videos that show possible solutions to the problems of feeding an overpopulated planet. They have designed fodder machines that synthetically harvest nutritional value from inedible plants and trees.

The interaction between art and science often leads to stimulating and innovative solutions, such as Joris Laarman’s lamp. Collaborations between scientists and artists can bring about new insights. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is exhibiting surprising examples by artists and designers who are providing unusual and inventive solutions to global questions.

John Bock, Curve-Auto with π-Man-(.), 2010
Dunne & Raby, Technological dreams series: no.1, robots, 2007, Designs for an overpopulated planet: Foragers, 2009
Auger-Loizeau, Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robots, 2009
Mischer’traxler, Idea of a Tree, 2008
John Körmeling, De vierkante auto, 2010
Richard Gilbert, The Megajoule Challenge, 2010
Oskar de Kiefte, The Converted Porsche 928, 1996, Dikke buizenfiets, Tornado Windturbine auto, 2010
Joris Laarman Lab, Heatwave, 2003
Studio Eric Klarenbeek, Led leave, 2011
Edhv, Debug chair, 2010
Roman Signer, Tuch, 2009
Gerrit van Bakel, Berlijn Machine, 1978-1980, Utah Machine (deel van de Utah-Tarim connectie), 1980, Automobieltje, 1976-1980, Baldur wagen, 1984
Studio Drift, Fragile Futures III, 2010, Oil Lamps
Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny, Vessel #2, 2011
Zoe Papadopoulou, Nuclear Dialogues, 2009
Auger-Loizeau', Afterlife, 2008-2011
Oscar Diaz, Yuri Suzuki, Rec and play
The Agency of Design, Chair. Unique Flatback furniture
Mischer’traxler, Relumine, 2010
Atelier NL, Sleeping Beauty
Mike Thompson, Blood lamp, 2009, Mike Thompson, Latro, 2009
Joris Laarman Lab, Half life lamp, 2010
Philippe Rahm, De-territorialised milieu, 2009
studio Makkink & Bey, Slowcar, 2008, Minutes-crockery, 2002
Edhv, Timewriters, 2010
Studio Bertjan Pot, Led Zeppelin, 2010, Revolving chandelier, 2009
Theo Jansen, Strandbeest: vermiculum, 2011
Michiel van Bakel, Walking City Redox, 2011
Demakersvan, Virtue of blue, 2010
Eric Klarenbeek, Floating Light, Lucid dreams
Damian O’Sullivan, Solar Lampion, 2007
Estelle Sauvage, Kettle
Panamarenko