Bik Van der Pol

Under the title “ENERGY! Power to the People”, urbanize! will explore the possibilities of an ecological and socially just energy transition and its opportunities for democratizing energy production and use from 8 to 13 October 2024. The aim is to empower urban society and engage civil society in a socially just and climate-friendly transformation of the city.

In cooperation with KÖR Wien and the festival Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol were invited, who have been working under the name Bik Van der Pol from Rotterdam (NL) since 1995. Bik Van der Pol’s mode of working consists of setting up the conditions for encounter, where they develop a process of working that allows for continuous reconfigurations of places, histories and publics. During their KEX Residency, Bik Van der Pol will develop the "School of Walking", a series of walks with various experts for the festival urbanize! at the beginning of October. "School of Walking" explores walking as a form of collective reflection against the backdrop of urban and global developments in the city of Vienna. For program details of "School of Walking" by Bik Van der Pol visit: urbanize! 2024

Thu 10.10.2024, 12 - 2 pm 
School of Walking: Lobau oder Umbau?
Martina Handler and Laura Grossmann from the “Climate Assembly” will lead us to the Lobau, the scene of years of protests against the planned highway project. Sign up here

Fri 11.10.2024, 12 - 2 pm 
School of Walking: Freie Mitte, wilder Lebensraum
Together with architects and urban planners Lina Streeruwitz and Michael Klein, we visit the urban development area Nordbahnhof and the associated park “Freie Mitte”. Streeruwitz is co-responsible for the area's master plan, while Klein lives there as one of the initiators of the co-housing project “Kohlenrutsche”. Sign up here

Sat 12.10.2024, 12 - 2 pm 
School of walking: Alsergrounded
On the walk through Alsergrund with democracy expert Tamara Ehs and researcher and activist Barbara Laa, the connections between democracy, participation and successful measures against the climate crisis will be discussed. Sign up here

Sun 13.10.2024, 12 - 2 pm
School of Walking: Zukunft für Zukunftshof?
Andreas Gugumuck from Zukunftshof, Klaus Schafler from Kunsthalle Exnergasse and the curator, photographer and filmmaker Karoline Mayer will accompany the walk at Zukunftshof. Sign up here

In cooperation with KÖR Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Wien Art Vienna, urbanize! Int. Festival für urbane Erkundungen