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| The spirituals: Jan Kriekels & Arne Quinze |
 Jan Kriekels: philosopher and artdirector from Jaga |
| Jan Kriekels is the non-conventional entrepreneur. Coming from a background in anthropology he seeks ways to transcend the traditional views in industry, art and economy. Currently he sets out the lines for theradiatorfactory.com in Belgium. He is a huge promotor of the 'creative economy', letting people design their own products. Being the project's mecenas, Jan looks to Uchronia as being a symbol for the creative economy. Uchronia is but the start of a larger project involving all creative souls worldwide. |
| The story behind the Uchronians return |
|
Jan met Arne some night in a pub in Belgium. They soon realized they had similar interests and ideas started brewing.
Many a beer felt was filled with scribbles and sketches during a series of nightly meetings. One conversation let them to 'Black Rock City' and the Burning man festival. The following year Jan and a band of trustees went scouting in Nevada, where the annual festival is held. The experience was overwhelming. Jan and Arne decided to build an installation of their own, 'Uchronia' was born. Arne eventually worked out the concept for the artwork and Jan organized a band of friends that wanted to participate willingly, 'the spirituals' the group was later dubbed. As the organisation grew a synergy was formed between a series of companies with different competences. Jaga, Quinze & Milan, UC-Belgium and Demon, together with sixty volunteers they set of into the Black Rock Desert. The whole event will be covered in a free art-book, made on the spot in Black Rock City. The 50.000 books will distributed to all 'the spirituals' in the world. Perhaps you'll get one too. |
Project timing:
August, 11: Return from the future
August, 15 : Arrival in Black Rock City
August, 16-27: Construction
August, 28: Start Burning Man Festival
September, 3: Burn of Uchronia
September, 7: Inspiring the planet for the future
We are coming back from a time where everyone creates products for themselves, getting pleasure of it. The experience of transforming personal creativity to a unique object being a source of satisfaction. The Uchronia installation is gigantic. It consists of 150 km of timber with a floor span of 60 by 30 meters in the center, and a height of 15 meters. Part of Uchronia involves the reforestoration of an equivalent surface. The extreme dimensions will fill you with awe for human creativity. It's a sculpture of sharing, a refuge for human beings and the recommendation to rediscover the essence of being. Sunlight will be dropping ever changing shadows inside of the structure. At dusk lights will come on in the structure dropping its shadows in the surrounding area. It opens a void to a time of freedom and boundless creativity.
All participants are volunteers, they contribute freely to Uchronia
without personal benefit other than spiritual.