Bik van der Pol in cooperation with Korteknie Stuhlmacher , Milohnic & Paschke i.s.m. Resonatorcoop
Beyond-Leidsche Rijn: Parasite Spots

In 2004 three Parasites were placed in Utrecht’s Leidsche Rijn. They were designed by the artist duos Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol (in collaboration with KorteknieStuhlmacher architects) and Daniel Milohnic and Dirk Paschke (in collaboration with architect’s firm, Resonatorcoöp). Both parasites had already been displayed at the Parasite Paradise exhibition. The third Parasite is the Paper Dome, created by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban.

The creation of environments where people converge is one of the essences of the work of Rotterdam’s artist duo, Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol. Their work often goes beyond the creation of art and they co-founders of the association, ‘Nomads & Residents’, a joint effort that organizes meetings, lectures and presentations through email correspondence. In this way the association seeks to establish an informal exchange of knowledge that is each time focused on a different local context.

Nomads in Residence/ No. 19 was designed as a spacious and flexible living and working space for guest artists, architects, writers and designers. As a space it literally exudes expansiveness and generates possibilities for the exchange of ideas. The working space is made up of doors that have been folded open to serve as doors, walls, a stage or a platform. The Nomads in Residence/ No. 19 was placed in Terwijde.
The Slovenian artist, Apolonija Sustersic took up residence here and set up Cinema/Studio in September 2004. Information regarding the activities of Apolonija Sustersic and the film programme can be found on the Beyond website.

Based on their own design German artists duo Daniel Milohnic & Dirk Paschke converted a series of simple sea containers into a meeting place with a wooden terrace. The terrace is covered with a roof made of bamboo parasols that serve to connect each section of the work. This parasite, titled ‘De Parasol’, was placed in Vleuterweide and functions as a community center operated by the welfare foundation, De Haar.
The interior is ready to be used in a variety of ways and, although the artists hinted that they would like to accommodate an old men’s card-playing club, two turntables have also been installed for anyone with DJ aspirations.

The third Parasite is the Paper Dome by Shigeru Ban (Tokyo, 1949). The Paper Dome is a large theater tent measuring almost 10 meters in height and 25 meters in diameter. The Dome is a lightweight construction made up of over 700 cardboard cylinders covered by a white sail. Ban’s designs are characterized by their uniquely gracious form in which light plays a large role. In 2003 Paper Dome was placed in IJburg for three weeks where it accommodated the theater performances of co-organizer, Groep Van Steen. The Paper Dome represents the first cultural facility of the Leidsche Rijn residents and will remain in Leidsche Rijn’s Hogeweide for a minimum of five years. Cultuur 19, a coalition of Utrecht’s organizations SMOL and ZIMIHC will provide the Dome’s programme.