*English only
Every year, 24 young people take on the challenge of imagining the future together, across borders, away from preconceived ideas and cherished beliefs. Inspired by the work of artist Koen Vanmechelen and the environment of LABIOMISTA, they think out new perspectives and ideas. Their sounding board: a transdisciplinary group of renowned artists and scientists and an inspiring Pythia. Together, they build the library of the future.
In July 2024, we kick off the fourth chapter of The Unthinkable Experiment: Chapter Future Garden. Join us in imagining the future and apply now
Who? 24 young people, ages 18 to 28
Language? main language English
Where? LABIOMISTA in Genk, with a 48h excursion in Brussels and Genk (BE)
When? 10 days in July. The program is divided into 2 sessions. Participants commit to take part in all sessions
Session 1: Ideation
Participants chose one of the following options: June 28 - 30, July 1-3 OR July 3-5
We start small. On three separate occasions, three groups of 8 young people immerse themselves in LABIOMISTA. To think and dream about the meaning of Future Garden. In the freedom of art, in the encounter with the other. This is where the participants take the first steps towards a new future, a new way of thinking and approaching important subjects.
For three days they work in LaMouseion's three knowledge boxes and sleep on the artist's farm. Three days of dialogue, discovery and imagination, new insights, reflections and impressions. They come together as a group to claim their own identity. The results are stored in drawings, text, images and video and will be presented to a transdisciplinary team of renowned artists and scientists.
Session 2: Inspiration, cross-fertilisation, co-creation
July 5 - 13
All 24 participants come together for the second session. Together they continue their journey of discovery, inspiration, cross fertilisation and co-creation. As they collect and exchange knowledge and initiate their own unthinkable experiment, they meet with artists, scientists, policy makers, farmers, social entrepreneurs, and local communities.
Inspiration
A 48h discovery, fertilisation and connection tour through Brussels and Genk. Through unexpected encounters, "Future Garden" returns in different forms and meanings, from the perspective of science, culture, and society.
Cross-fertilisation
Participants come together with a transdisciplinary team of internationally recognised artists, scientists and policy makers. Starting from the creations of the participants they think critically about the present and the future, reframe their own ideas and seek new combinations, in words and images.
Co-creation & Vernissage
The 4-day co-creation session takes place in the sanctum of Koen Vanmechelen's artist studio. In this phase, participants consolidate and translate new insights and knowledge into various media and communication forms. Additional inspiration comes from evening sessions on art, film, neighborhood engagement, etc. Filmmaker Stijn Coninx invites a Belgian filmmaker to join the conversation.
The co-creation session ends with a vernissage in which participants present and test their (new) knowledge, ideas, creations and projects to the Unthinkable Experiment alumni, neighbourhood partners and a network of friends and family.
Evaluation and activation
Aug - Sept - Oct
The ideas of the Vernissage will travel with the students to different locations after the closing event, where they will be discussed and discovered again.
Transdisciplinary team
Keep an eye out as we are updating the members of the Transdisciplinary team regularly.
For further questions, look to our FAQ page
Partners
