Eco Has Never Been So Sexy

Amsterdam / Go See
en af Cicerone /  Frederique van Staalen, 25. jul 2008

One advantage of having children is that you come to know everyone regardless of class or profession. My daughter played in kindergarten with the son of the director of Mediamatic an (e)cultural institution operating in the field of new media, art and society. Right now the threat of a substantial cut in state grants forces Mediamatic to fight back with highly ludicrous activities in the city. Measures such as handing over their library to the public and several other protests recall the spirit of the activism of art movements like Cobra or the Situationist International.

Like a Comme des Garçons guerrilla store, their office hopped from one over the top location to the next. Having just left POST CS (the building where Club 11 used to be) they have now opened their doors in the former headquarters of the ABN bank.

This summer Mediamatic curated an exhibition IKIKIK=MEMEME with designer Andrea Crews, who is known for similar events in Palais de Tokyo (Paris) and Madrid.

During this interactive show on fashion and self representation on the internet, with what they call a big component of DIY=do-it-yourself, you can perform on several levels: you can join upcycle yourself workshops, professional catwalk workshops, buy retro basic clothes for 5 euro a kilo and sew them straight away into streetwear, participate in photoshoots to name but a few of them.

A huge pile of clothes in the middle of the ground floor of this old bank building dominates the space, flanked by sewing machines, a bar with a garden view and a catwalk. For those who are not ultimately creative themselves you can buy some piece of clothes and let Mediamatic takeover the complete the makeover.

Mediamatic Bank; Vijzelstraat 68

Exhibition 18 July-4 October 2008

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Cicerone

Hotel De Goudfazant

Amsterdam / Go Eat
en af Cicerone /  Frederique van Staalen, 7. jul 2008

 

Associating this name with Jacques Brel’s chanson, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois) I could not have been more surprised as friends took me to this amazing place in the north of Amsterdam last weekend. Situated along the IJ Channel a huge hangar, which used to store requisites and decors for a theatre company, is transformed into a realm of industrial grandeur.

On less windy nights you can sit outside and enjoy a breathtaking view over the outstretched IJ and the KNSM Island.

Sitting in the gigantic hall amongst a mixture of young downtowners, beautiful people and some parked cars, I had the feeling it suited all. Kids were playing billiards on a mezzanine, the emptiness of the hall filled with nothing else than our lifted spirits reflected in one immense chandelier above the bar and as if it is of any importance on such a night, the food was superb: fresh, tasty and handsomely composed.


Photo by *N*o*o*r 

Being one of the hottest dinner places at the moment and always booked out, the staff is not arrogant at all. On the contrary, in an informal way they chat, are attentive and at night even cycle with you to open the fence.

I have to admit that it is almost impossible to find but in a way that is part of the charm. So be well prepared- study a map, take a cab or simply ask a local. Good luck! 

Hotel de Goudfazant; Aambeeldstraat 10H; Amsterdam-Noord

Udgivet af
Cicerone