Three artists begin temporary art assignment in Lombok
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Starting in 2024, Gemene Grond and the Commonraad will regularly invite new artists. These artists will reflect on the changing square and the work of previous artists. In this way, we show what the future of our city can look like and experiment with new artistic approaches in the neighborhood. The first artists are Sarah Kaushik, Marij Nielen, and Marnix de Klerk and Nina Mathijsen of Take a Detour.
At the beginning of 2023, the municipality of Utrecht approved the zoning plan and preliminary design for the future Westplein. However, the use of the square and the future park by the water is still undecided. While the new square's construction considers traffic challenges, it does not yet address the diversity and layers of the neighborhood it is named after. Lombok is a socially and culturally rich district with a lot of experience and energy to involve various voices from the neighborhood in the municipality's plans. Meanwhile, the growing influence of gentrification is felt throughout the district.
This is an opportunity to discuss ownership, representation, and justice in urban public spaces. Gemene Grond proposes a design process that is not determined by a single designer but created together with the neighborhood. We specifically collaborate with people who have not been adequately heard before. It will be a few more years before the square is completely finished. During this time, Gemene Grond works with the neighborhood, the municipality, and businesses to explore how the public space and future building block can be developed based on shared values and ownership.
Lombok Times
In 2023, Suzanne Sanders (Gemene Grond) and Ramiro Gomes Monteiro (Creative Playground) brought together a Commonraad in Lombok, consisting of a diverse group of culturally and socially engaged residents and entrepreneurs. The Commonraad knows the neighborhood inside out and understands what is happening. In 2023, Noor Bootsma (commons design researcher) also designed a visualization of ‘Wat Maakt West?’. This visualization became the Lombok Times: a newspaper filled with the voices of residents about the Lombokplein now and 15 years into the future, published between February and May 2024.
Everything we learn from the Lombok Times and during monthly neighborhood conversations forms the basis for three art assignments for Utrecht artists. From this year, Gemene Grond and the Commonraad will regularly invite new artists. These artists will reflect on the changing square and the work of previous artists. This way, we show what the future of our city can look like and experiment with new artistic approaches in the neighborhood.
Artists at Work
What these three artists will create can be anything. For example, artworks about a dystopian future or elections for a new square mayor. These artists might create pieces about culture or important issues in the shared space and the environment. Members of the Commonraad with experience in art and creative projects will guide the artists through this process. The unveiling of the artworks will take place during a festive neighborhood gathering at the Westplein on September 27, 2024.
Who are the artists?
Made possible with a contribution from
Stimuleringsfonds voor Creatieve Industrie – Ruimte voor rechtvaardigheid
Gemeente Utrecht
Commonraad Lombok
K.F. Hein Fonds
Executive team
Angelina Kumar: co-curator Wat Maakt West? Production and placing on Westplein
Suzanne Sanders, quartermaster Gemene Grond and curator Wat Maakt West, Joyce Vlaming: co-curator Gemene Grond
shared commissioning with the municipality
Together with the municipality of Utrecht and neighbors in 'Wat Maakt West?', we are ultimately working towards a shared and neighborhood-supported interpretation of the new Lombokplein.
