A 4-day Research by Photography studio exploring Americanism in Rotterdam with artist, photographer, and writer Charlie Koolhaas, taking place on 07, 08, 14 & 15 October 2022.
The time that Rotterdam was a bleak and boring city is not far in the past and yet it seems to be completely forgotten. Embracing the nickname Manhattan on the Maas, the city currently derives a large part of its identity from its shiny towers that since the 1980s have popped up all around the city center - one even higher than the other. This development has created an iconic image that does well in city marketing and tourist brochures and has helped to put the city on the map. But a closer look might reveal a whole different meaning of Rotterdam being named after one of America’s most known urban areas; there is the car-centred urban planning that still dominates the city and a car cruising culture in shopping streets such as the Meent or West-Kruiskade. In addition, there’s a lively hip-hop and graffiti scene that are part of a street culture that reflects the superdiversity of the city’s population. And these demographics also bring a certain entrepreneurialism to the city that pervades everyone. All of these are phenomena that distinguish Rotterdam from other Dutch cities and simultaneously connect it to many US-cities.
In this research-by-photography studio, that will culminate in a finished book, we will investigate the hypothesis that Rotterdam is the most American city in the Netherlands (and possibly even Europe). By focusing on Rotterdams American influences, alliances and synchronicities - whether it be in the many urban cultures that permeate the city - the fashions, the musics and arts - to the cities housing typologies, and infrastructure, we will look at how this remote Dutch city sometimes unashamedly appropriates Americanism. And though American imperialism imposes its culture on much of the world, Rotterdammers seem to embrace their connections to the US wholeheartedly.
Regular participation fee: 250 euro. Discounted fee for everyone under 30.