Edition #2 May/June 2016

Tessellate

Stories that make you pause

1 Tessellate

Ed Jansen

Ed Jansen, Lisette Huizinga/Kaledoscopia 2015

2 Tessellate

ABOUT Our name comes from the Japanese word for

comma, because at ToTen we aim to produce

journalism which will make you pause.

The print issue of ToTen comes out every

two months and is distributed around Leiden,

The Hague and Rotterdam, while our website

(www.to10.nl) and social media are updated daily.

WORDS Ailie Conor

Anneloes van Iwaarden

Annemarie Jansen

Arto Salojarvi

Azra Secerbegovic

Cissie Fu

Daisuke Tsubota

Daniel Taylor

Eline Chivot

Helena Bond

Jelle van der Meulen

Leonie Holly

Luiz Sanchez

Maxime Zech

Molly Quell

Rosy Brega

INFORMATION Contact us

Questions, comments, general information:

info@to10.nl

Become a contributor: info@to10.nl

Sales: sales@to10.nl

Print

Roularta Printing

info@roularta.be

Disclaimer

©2016 ToTen

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accu-

racy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for

omissions and errors. All material in this publication

is strictly copyright and all rights reserved.

FOLLOW US /ToTenNews /ToTenNews /T_O_T_E_N

www.to10.nl

WE ARE

IMAGE Aditya Kumar

Daisuke Tsubota

Ed Jansen

Hatem Mahbouli

Heather Montague

Kasper van Steveninck

Maxime Zech

Oliver Blue

Thomas Cytrynowicz

Tomoko Tsubota

DESIGN Melina Durinck

TEAM Ailie Conor

Annemarie Jansen

Arto Salojarvi

Jantien Slettenhaar

Leonie Holly

Maxime Zech

Rosy Brega

Special thanks to Simone Branson-Harper

for intiating inclusive citizen journalism in

The Hague

3 Tessellate

Of the 25 regular members, around half were up for a chat and a ride-

along today. Low-riders, low-gliders, stretched cruisers and choppers

came along with them, of course. Hetto, who handles the club’s media

output, tells me that the KTC’s annual Easter weekend cruise draws

around 100 members. What does it take to become a member? All you

need is a sick ride and a good attitude. If you pick the gang and the

gang picks you, then you’re sorted.

It has to be stressed, however, that the term “gang” sent hackles

rising amongst this crew. They wholeheartedly reject any similarity

to the traditional “biker gangs.” There is no president, nor do they

THE KEYTOWN CRUISERS

In Leiden, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, I found myself surrounded by the town’s most notorious group of inhabitants. They’re notorious for being super friendly, and for their conspicuous rides. The KeyTown Cruisers (KTC) encapsulate Leiden’s multilayered personality, and harken back to the good old days when the town was a healthy amount’s rough around the edges, but authentic and friendly at the same time. Underneath the beards, tattoos, and a patch that reads “slut,” are a group of friends that like cool bicycles.

have chapters. Out the window went my fantasy of possibly being the

modern female Hunter S. Thompson for a day; but on this exclusive

occasion, I am saying that as a positive thing. There are a few bike

clubs around the world who subscribe to biker-style lawlessness, but

the KeyTown Cruisers aren’t about structure and patch-in rituals.

Except its youngest member, Bas (14). He was showered in beer when

he became a member, but that was a special occasion.

The club is actually very family friendly. Kids come along on cruises as

well, and can even ride kid-size low-riders. This may also be the reason

why the KTC seems to be made up of an almost equal distribution of

4 Tessellate

Words by Maxime Zech

Images by Thomas Cytrynowicz

men and women. When I asked Laura, Lijntje, and Kelly why other clubs like the

KTC generally have a 70-30 ratio of men to women, it was difficult to find an answer.

Tentatively, Hetto proposed that the beer culture attached to bicycle clubs may be at

fault – which many, but not all, of KCT’s members subscribe to – but he said it while

one of the girls had a hangover, and I was licking La Chouffe foam off my lips.

At its core a social club, the KeyTown Cruisers often go on day cruises, either

organised by their own club or one of the several other national and international

clubs. Your ride is rewarded by a beer, and your beer is rewarded by a ride. I was

fortunate enough to be present at the uncorking of a bottle of Westmalle that had

been hanging from a special holster on Hetto’s frame for a few months, a move that

was well-received among several of the other members present for the day.

The Cruisers get a lot of attention in town. When people see these bikes parked in

the street, many of them custom designed or even built by the person who rides

them, they understandably behave like cats around breakable household objects,

they really want to touch. As a result, many bikes have “Don’t Touch” signs on them.

After having curried enough favour with some of the club members, Hetto and

Dicky urged me to try out their low-gliders. I felt like a cowgirl on a chrome snake.

So smooth. So right. Afterwards, cycling back home on my plain, student-budget,

everyman’s bike, I couldn’t help but feel like I had been butt-bumped into a puddle

after swimming a glorious lake. I guess that’s how the low-rider bug spreads.

5 Tessellate

During the festival Catherine Gyldensted, Director of

Constructive Journalism at Windesheim University

in The Netherlands, gave a completely inspiring and

table-turning Master class on so-called Constructive

Journalism. Gyldensted, an experienced Danish

journalist turned media consultant, laid down the

ground rules of this innovative approach to journalism.

These rules are also described in her recently published

book From Mirrors to Movers: Five Elements of Positive

Psychology in Constructive Journalism.

So what exactly is Constructive Journalism? And why

do we need it?

Before going into these questions, it is well worth

reflecting on our current 24/7 world of data and

information access. How do we consume all this

information, what type of information do we consume,

and why do we consume it in the first place? Much

of our current available information seems to be

confined to two camps: the overly negative and critical

newsfeeds camp vs. the overly positive and mostly

irrelevant happy-story camp (think of baby kittens

being saved from burning buildings by big, strong

firemen). This leaves us with a rather one-sided view

of the world.

Which is where Gyldensted steps in. She is of the

opinion that journalists should look at complex

conflicts more as dilemmas with different layers and

solutions, instead of just reporting on all the bad things

that are happening in the world.

“We face a problem with being too caught up reporting on negatives, stemming from a belief that by only focusing on what is wrong with the world (being ‘critical’) can we keep power accountable.”

An undisputed highlight of the cinematic year in The Hague is of course the Movies that Matter Festival. From the 18th of March till the 26th of March 2016 documentary and film-enthusiasts had the opportunity to gorge on over 70 feature films and documentaries from across the world, all showcasing stories of societal relevance. One of the main reasons for the success of this internationally acclaimed festival, is that it invites us all to take a more in-depth look at the world we live in today, a world with many more shades of grey than current headlines and newsfeeds would have us believe.

CONSTRUCTIVE

Gyldensted believes that current news doesn’t portray

the world accurately. Even certain documentaries can

fall prone to reporting with a ‘negative, victim-oriented

bias’.

In her book Gyldensted presents five all-important

elements of Constructive Journalism. First of all,

she asks journalists to expand the mind, pointing

out that they need to be aware of victimisation and

the perhaps unconscious bias in us all toward the

negative. Storming the brain is Gyldensted’s way to

spark true brainstorming in the newsroom so that

conventional ideas are challenged and different news

angles are found. As for the third element (change the

question), she argues that critical interviews can be

far more powerful when adding a few equally critical

constructive elements to them, (i.e. questions about

visions, solutions, and collaborations). Telling it

right is the fourth point on Gyldensted’s Constructive

Journo to-do list; how journalists conclude stories is as

important as the subject itself. And her final element is

called Moving the world. This is all about broadening

the story’s perspective, to include future considerations

and possible outcomes and solutions.

In conclusion, Constructive Journalism offers a

refreshing take on our world and how we view it. As

Gyldensted explains;

‘‘Constructive journalism recognises that faults, failure,

and abuse exist in the world; however it maintains that

simultaneously there is always development, growth, and

opportunity.”

So throw away out-dated ideas about serious news only

being about doom and gloom. It is time to recognise

that grey is the new black-and-white!

Gyldensted, Catherine, From Mirrors to Movers: Five Elements of Positive Psychology in Constructive Journalism (GGroup Publishing, 2015)

Words by Anneloes van Iwaarden

J0URNALISM

6 Tessellate

The common-held view is that energy efficiency equals less consumption, and is therefore sustainable and eco-friendly; yet you have been exploding this myth, showing that many so-called efficient products are in fact highly consumptive.Everyone agrees about efficiency, but this has little to do with energy saving. I often

use the example of LED bulbs replacing the Edison bulbs. What we have witnessed

is an increase of lights around us, because they are more energy efficient, so for the

same amount of energy we can have even more lights. More LED light bulbs means

that more materials, and more energy is used to produce them, however, and, in

turn, our negative impact on the environment increases. This exemplifies a high-

tech solution for increasing energy efficiency; but it also increases demand, and the

consumption of energy rises exponentially. It’s called the “Jevons paradox.”

Are high-tech solutions then exacerbating rather than solving our energy problems?Without denying the obvious benefits of many advanced technologies, it’s important

to develop a more critical understanding of the often hidden and indirect energy-

intensive costs of our technologies. I do not advocate for a return to a world without

modern comforts and technology, but I look at solutions that are out there. I explore

the potential of combining the often forgotten old technology with new knowledge

and new materials.

Can low-tech solutions and alternatives really be used on a large-scale? Theoretically, a lot of low-tech alternatives could work on a large scale but we

first need politicians to embrace this view, and for the industry to provide the

infrastructure. This presupposes we rethink our economic structures, our systems of

governance and, ultimately, our lifestyles.

How much energy do we actually need to lead a good life?

Many of us are buying products advertised as environmentally friendly goods and services in an effort to be more sustainable and conscious, but many times it feels as a marketing ploy and greenwashing. How do we differentiate and make the right choice?Yes, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of eco-friendly and green. But ask

yourself: the marketing, the packaging, and the transportation of many products is

high-energy consuming. Are there not any alternatives? Take, for example, Marqt,

the supermarket chain that is conscious and “friendly to people, animals and,

environment,” with some organic foods as well. Then consider the small grocery

shop at the corner who sells locally produced vegetables in brown paper bags.

Which is more green and sustainable?

Our high-tech industrial model is posited on “take, make, and dispose” principles. Renewable energy accounts for only a fraction of final energy consumption; it excludes the oil used for transport, pesticides, and plastics, etc. Does this mean the end of our fast consumption and industrial economic models?What all this means is that we have simply to consume far less energy. Sustainability

has to do with lifestyle. We identify progress with convenience and speed. But if we

want future generations to have a decent, good life in a world that is not depleted, we

have to change the way we live. And a slower society is part of the solution.

Journalist, researcher, and tech blogger, Kris de Decker started his blog Lowtech Magazine in 2007, which now boasts over 25.000 regular readers and 150.000 unique visitors per month. He provides practical solutions to high energy consumption, and breaks down the assumption that high-tech solutions are best for our ever-increasing use of energy, exposing the flaw of what we have come to identify with energy saving: efficiency and speed.

Words by Rosy Brega

7 Tessellate

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING MEDICINE JET

Our captains hope you enjoy the ride.

8 Tessellate

How did your adventure begin on the Medicine Jet?

The three of us started out as a line with three dots.

Tijs and Frank have been friends since high school

and developed a very rare musical connection that

makes it easy to naturally feel each other’s rhythm and

melody. A few other people tried to join the duo, but

could never really understand the flow. Later on, Tijs

played in another band with Pascal, where he felt a very

similar relationship. When Pascal joined the duo, the

musical love triangle was complete.

Why did you decide on only bringing out a LP?

CDs are dying out. Most people rely on Spotify or

iTunes for their daily dose of music and for the real

music lovers, there is the LP. Those people want to

have something physical that they can hold in their

hands and hang on their wall as a collector’s item. This

way of treating music fits with our philosophy. It’s not

about selling a lot of LP’s, it’s about making something

beautiful that people can enjoy. Also, because the

artwork is so detailed and there is so much going on it

wouldn’t have worked on a CD, which made the choice

even easier.

Words by Annemarie Jansen

Images by Kasper van Steveninck

Though they are based in The Hague, we are pretty sure Medicine Jet were born in space. Dubbed a Psylectrodelic Rock ‘n Roll trio Medicine Jet has Frank on vocals and guitar, Pascal on vocals and bass and Tijs on drums. Although the past year has been quiet, they were absolutely booming in 2014, the year they recorded the album just released in the beginning of April 2016. Will this be their year to rise up from the dust and start playing those psychedelicious melodies again?

Why were you guys off the radar in 2015?

2015 Was a quiet year as there were other things taking

up our time. Some of us still study and we are involved

in multiple bands. Because we don’t have a manager

or booking agency, we have to be very active in putting

ourselves out there in order to get booked. Another

factor is that we make very intense music, which means

we are not suited for every festival. Luckily there is a lot

happening in the Netherlands, but you have to know

when, where and whom to approach.

Where are you standing right now?

Now that we have released the EP, there is a sort of

freedom again. Currently we are at a crossroad, not

sure which direction is best. This is liberating in a sort

of way, as we are able to have a moment of reflection

and make a new selection of music and develop a new

direction in how to present our music to the public. In

the near future we are planning on having a combined

tour with Machete Nightclub and Cockney’s World of

Elastic Snakes. We hope to fuse our powers into the

most intense trip one can have on stage.

9 Tessellate

Giving up on trying to hear the individual stories I entered the dimly

lit room. Eyes followed me from every corner from the hundreds of

different faces that de Puy was greeted with as she and her Harley hit

the road in America going, literally, wherever the wind would take

them.

I was overwhelmed yet I was jealous. Jealous of the freedom portrayed

in the portraits, by the huge landscape ridden carelessly upon by a

motorbike, and by the overall sense of going just because of going. All

of these feelings displayed flawlessly in the magnificent and touching

collection produced by de Puy along the way. I wanted to go too.

De Puy’s desire to do this trip started with a need to get away from

the endless rhythm of her life in the Netherlands. Deadline after

deadline, commission portrait after commission portrait. She wanted

to photograph the people she wanted to photograph rather than

people she was assigned.

Stepping into the back room of the gallery the documentary

surrounding her trip (by Simone de Vries) is rolling bringing an

extra personal element to the experience. You are no longer seeing

only the photographs; you are seeing de Puy’s interactions with her

subjects making the endless stream of characters’ shine through even

further as you are re-immersed into the collection after finishing the

documentary.

‘I suffer from panic attacks too’ is one of the strongest lines I can

remember de Puy stating in the film. Speaking to a clearly nervous

subject who had an attachment to their dog, they mention that their

dog protects them during an attack. De Puy is unfazed by the diverse

mix of people she meets. She finds a common bond with them no

matter what walk of life, age, job or gender they are.

Although de Puy tries to picture all types of people from a diverse

spectrum I feel there is a reoccurring theme of the forgotten. Perhaps

this feeling comes through as the collection of people she photographs

are those she bumps into in bars, petrol stations or motels along

the way. Due to this the eyes of her subjects generally stand out

profusely, as there is a certain sadness or loneliness showing from

within. Perhaps that is also because her subjects reveal their inner

vulnerability to her as she makes them feel comfortable in front of the

camera.

I would go to the exhibition again and again and undoubtedly new

layers to the photos would become clear every trip. The more of her

work I see the more I am in awe of Robin de Puy.

Words by Leonie Holly

Images by Robin de Puy

(courtesy Ravestijn Gallery/ Photomuseum Den Haag)

On the last step in the staircase leading to the exhibition room I immediately feel overwhelmed by Robin de Puy’s collection. Four or five tiny little screens all talking at the same time, indistinguishable from each other, set the volume of the inaudible portraits to follow in the gallery.

If This is True…

10 Tessellate

You Can’t Go Home

By the time you read this article, I’ll be somewhere on the East Coast

of the United States, probably trying to not murder any of my blood

relatives.

Dealing with family always carries with it the potential for stress.

Even those with totally functional families, the pressure of holidays,

traveling and spending time in close quarters is a recipe for serious

difficulty. Add to that the changing relationship dynamics and years

of lingering resentment about past grievances and the situation has

as much potential for disaster as trying to balance a new piece of Ikea

furniture on your bike.

Any international who heads back to their country of origin will lament

the same struggles. You return home, only to discover you are not

the same person and home is not the same place. Trying to organise

drinks nights in a country where everyone drives is a headache. Also,

places in America do not sell carbonated water, which frankly, is a

crime against humanity. There isn’t enough time to visit everyone.

There is the guilt trip of living so far away that you miss all of the big

milestone events. The need to explain why you’re choosing to live

abroad. The resentment you feel for being forced to spend all of your

holiday time in your parents’ spare bedroom.

Add some family disfunction, a new relationship, a gathering of

extended family members (whom I mostly do not like) and spending

several consecutive nights with my parents’ whose town isn’t even

listed on a map and it’s no wonder I’ve called KLM twice to see if I

can change my flight destination to anywhere that’s not in the United

States.

And yet, I do miss them. I’m envious whenever I call my parents and

one of my siblings is there. I’m jealous of the time my family got to

spend with my grandmother before she died earlier this year. I miss

America too, with its delicious Mexican food and diversity.

So I am packing my bags and steeling myself for the jet lag and fighting

and living out of a suitcase and uncomfortable mattresses. But, next

year, I tell myself, I’m going to Bali.*

*There is a 100% chance that next year my column for ToTen will be

about not learning from past mistakes.

Words by Molly Quell

Brews and Views

11 Tessellate

Trendy décor, a cool premise, and above all great food. There is no shortage of places in Zuid-Holland where you can find all these elements brought together. For our second issue, themed ‘Tessellate’ we have chosen our team’s personal favourites from Leiden, The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam. These are places to relax, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy some good eats, whatever your poison. We have coffee-bars, café’s and even a sushi bar, and they all have their own distinct feel which we think makes them special. They all put the ‘nom’ in phenomenal.

GALERIE CAFÉ LEIDSE LENTEEverything about this place is delicious, from its food and its coffee to

its scrumptious blend of retro interiors and modern art. Galerie Café

Leidse Lente offers a fresh and hip take on the comforts of home, and

brings together the makers and doers of Leiden.

The café on Haagweg 4 doubles as a creative podium, and a canvas on

which musicians, poets, and artists, many of whom have their studios

in the adjoining building, can showcase their work. Every six weeks,

the exhibition refreshes with a new theme, and new work on display.

Along with art, the café also regularly forms a stage for events such as

music, films and talks. And if there isn’t music on the stage, there is

a vinyl corner with LPs and a record player that works like a jukebox.

Just don’t work out your Fonzie fantasies on it, and you should be fine.

(MZ)

Phe nom enal

Images by Oliver Blue

12 Tessellate

LILITH ROTTERDAMBreakfast is the most important meal of the day. This must make Lilith,

a café that serves all-day breakfast, pretty darn important. Located on

Mauritsstraat, just off the main drag in the heart of Rotterdam, this

cosy café has a cool wooden façade, with a few benches outside for

those rare sunny days. The interior is a mix of modern and vintage,

with a cute back room complete with arm-chairs and indoor plants.

Their regular menu boasts a range of sweet and savory brunches, from

granola and eggs benedict to the show-stopping blueberry pancakes,

or our unbeatable favourite, the french toast with red fruits and

condensed milk. They serve a solid cup of coffee and their smoothies

are also a good alternative if you aren’t looking for a full meal and

keep an eye on their Facebook for specials. Lilith is very cool, very

delicious, pretty easy on your wallet, and a great spot for a lazy brunch

or a hung-over breakfast. Though be warned – they can get pretty busy

on the weekends. (AC)

Images by Aditya Kumar, www.lazyshutter.com

13 Tessellate

THE SUSHI GIRLSI love how their sushi’s quality is always so consistent.

Sushi Meisjes opened their own restaurant a few months’ ago and is quickly

building a reputation as one of the best freshly made sushi places in The

Hague. It’s a small restaurant located on the Prins Hendrikstraat 96, tastefully

decorated with a large glass window giving you a view of street; safer to make

reservations to guarantee a spot.

The service is prompt and friendly and with good background music. They

also provide a take-away service and delivery.

The menu includes several types of sushi all made on the premises using

fresh seafood and vegetables: Sashimi and Nigiris and the best inside-out

rolls you’re going to have anywhere! And their presentation is a stunner. An

absolute favourite of mine is the Pink Dragon roll with prawns, avocado,

spring onions and seared salmon on top. Their salads and sushibowls are

also fantastic.

Open from Thursdays to Mondays, 4pm to 9pm, eating here or ordering their

take-away is simply an experience not to be missed. (RB)

KEK DELFTMore than just a Coffee-bar. Kek is located smack-

bang in the center of Delft on the Voldersgraacht and is

certainly a local favourite. The coffee here may just be

the best in Delft, and you can enjoy a cold-brew on one

of these increasingly warm sunny days. Their lunches

and breakfasts are also popular, but it is their cakes

which we really, really love.

The outside seats are perfect in warm weather but

there is plenty of seating inside, including a large

wooden table if you don’t mind rubbing shoulders with

someone new. Kek has an exposed brick wall, and a

mix of rustic and vintage interior, and also functions as

a store, so you can take home some of the cool accent

pieces and tid-bits. It is the perfect place to go if you

want a healthy snack, a hearty lunch and most of all, a

damn good cup of coffee. (AC)

14 Tessellate

Wash ingredients, peel and cut all into small chunks.

Place alternating layers of sugar, apples, ginger, lemon and chilli

flakes in the container (the 1st and last layer should be sugar). Leave

at least 5cm of empty space at the top.

This is the groundwork. Patiently, stir every morning and evening

and the sugar will slowly become liquid. After 2-4 weeks it will be

fermented and the liquid will become fizzy and bubbly.

Once fermented, pour through a cheesecloth or a fine sieve.

The syrup can be used to make Ginger Ale: fill a glass a third of the way

with the syrup and top up with sparkling water for a natural ginger

ale taste. It’s also fantastic in cocktails and for cooking too. Marinate

meat in it before grilling and not only will it give a distinctive flavour,

it helps make the meat soft and juicy.

Fermented foods are very healthy. They provide an incredible depth

of flavour and are packed with probiotics, the good bacteria stuff. I

like to keep this syrup in stock and add a boost of flavor to drinks and

to foods, both raw and cooked.

Ginger and Apple Fermented Syrup

Originally from Yokohama, Japan and now living in Berlin, Daisuke, a freelance graphic designer, communication planner, expert on communication with(out) words is passionate about cooking and making sourdough bread. He shares with us his home brewed syrup recipe.

2 SMALL APPLES 200 GRAMMES FRESH GINGER ROOT

1 LEMON 1-2 PINCHES OF CHILLI FLAKES

SUGAR, EQUAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL

INGREDIENTS (ABOVE)

GLASS (OR PLASTIC) CONTAINER WITH LID, STERILIZED IN

BOILING WATER Words and image by Daisuke Tsubota

15 Tessellate

Delft is most known for its beer pubs. And the Klooster

has the largest selection of speciality beers available

in the city. It’s also a cosy brown cafe with an attached

restaurant that serves a menu made with and inspired

by beer. Ask the staff for a recommendation, they are

incredibly knowledgeable and hopefully they will head

down to the cellar to find you a great beer.

Want to branch out from beer? De Klomp has an

extensive jenever selection and will even offer you a

tasting of several for less than five bucks. They have a

nice selection of specialty beers too. It’s also the oldest

pub in Delft and, if you’re lucky, the owner might be in

to give you a quick tour.

If you want some entertainment with your beverage,

the Bebop jazz cafe offers up live jazz several nights

a week. It’s a small space and popular with students,

so you may find yourself packed in while enjoying one

of their 90 beers. There’s also a courtyard in the back

which is a great spot when the weather is nice.

Words by Molly Quell

Image by Heather Montague

Ventured into Delft for dinner or to check out the Vermeer exhibition and want to stop off for a drink afterwards? The town has lots to offer, no matter your poison. But sometimes you have to get off the beaten path to find the best spots.

Big groups might find a better location at Proeflokaal, a

spacious place with the vibe of an English pub. There’s

several spaces to play darts, the bar also has a very

popular pub quiz in English and it can be a popular

place to watch sports, as it has a huge projection

screen. Be sure to bring cash, as they don’t take card.

Repeatedly named as one of the best establishments in

the Netherlands, Doerak has a great beer selection and

a very knowledgable and friendly staff. Get something

from the tap, it’s a rotating list of beers and there’s

always something new and delicious. They also serve

an excellent cup of coffee.

Really, really don’t want to drink beer? Wijnbar Ron,

as you may be able to discern from the name, serves a

great selection of wines. The atmosphere is upscale but

the prices aren’t unreasonable. Don’t want a glass of

wine? They also have a large selection of gin.

Best Bars in Delft

16 Tessellate

From devices surgically implanted into your ear canal that allow you to take calls (remember, that episode of Shark Tank) to Smart Hats (and no, we don’t mean Harry Potter’s Sorting Hat) the world of wearable devices, that’s to say, technologically augmented clothing and accessories, are having an impact on the way we see our wardrobe.

Back in 2009, the Netherlands was at the forefront of the fashion/ technology blend,

with a program by The Netherlands Media Art Institute being a highlight of the 5 Days

Off Festival in Amsterdam. Today, the Netherlands continues to play an important role

in the field, with Pauline van Dongen recently creating a wearable solar shirt featuring

120 thin solar cells which can be used to charge a smartphone. Perfect, if you don’t live

in a country with a Dutch climate!

However, as the world of technology grows and becomes more interwoven with

the fabric of all aspects of modern life pardon the pun, you wonder to what extent

further integration is necessary. From earrings with Bluetooth (Ilya Fridman, 2008) to

Microsoft’s Tweeting Dress (2012), when can a shoe be, well, a shoe?

Google glasses were a prime example of technology gone too far. After huge pre-launch

hype and release for public sale in 2014, the headset production was officially halted in

2015 following widespread criticism and legislative action.

Wrist accessories, on the other hand, seem to have gone mainstream. Wrist band activity

trackers help you to monitor steps taken, distance travelled and calories burned, which

incentivises further activity and helps all-round fitness and well-being… provided you

don’t have an OCD streak. Also in the race (and that’s for market space, not those other

joggers in the park training for the Vredesloop) is the smartwatch. Arguably preceding

all other wearable devices with its humble beginnings as the calculator watch, a.k.a.

the wrist accessory of the 1980s, this early pre-runner has manifested itself into today’s

stylish smartwatches.

Whereas many efforts are taken to fully integrate fashionable smartwatches into

everyday wardrobe, a major downside still appears to be that some of these devices

can’t function stand-alone, for instance, the Applewatch needs to be near an iPhone to

work, and therefore still won’t replace the bulkier items such as phones. Furthermore,

smartwatches will never replace their traditional predecessor, the humble watch or, as

the Swiss manufacturers prefer to call them the “timepiece”, as a family heirloom. Just

imagine the faces of the future generation when Grandpa leaves them a smartwatch

that, by that stage, is less advanced than their electric toothbrush…

Wearable devices have also had a significant impact in the medical world. I spoke to

one Dutch entrepreneur whose start-up company sells innovative wearable medical

devices. According to Alexander Remie, Managing Director of Almaria Group, this is

where the developments have really been exciting: “The great thing about wearable

devices in the clinical world is that it is very obvious where and how they add value

and improve patient life and diagnostic yield. While many of the recent non-medical

wearable accessories produced are very advanced and look slick, they’re still gadgets.

Nobody seems to have fully figured out yet where they add real value to everyday life”.

Overall, I am naturally in favour of the advancement of wearable devices for medical

reasons, and I’m a fan of the accessories. It’s handy to have multi-functionality on your

gadget. But a “cell-phone dress”? Not for me, thanks. I’d be too worried that I would

short circuit when it rains. And, despite what any techie can vouch for, not everything

is better with Bluetooth.

Words by Helena Bond

Image by Ed Jansen,

Iris van Herpen/ Collection Escapism, 2011

Techy togs

17 Tessellate

Although many of us still associate robots with industrial projects and performing hazardous jobs, in local business the development in robotic technology and advances in artificial intelligence in the recent years have also allowed some of the more traditionally human-driven companies to embrace new technologies; in 2014 we saw the introduction of an ambulance drone to deliver help to heart attack patients, drastically increasing the survival rate of a heart attack victim, while earlier this year Dominos Pizza issued an announcement revealing plans to launch an autonomous robotic pizza delivery vehicle.

Many of us already have robotics technology and artificial intelligence

devices in our own homes; drones or gadgets, having SIRI on your

smartphone to guide you through life, or that Roomba that your

cat is clearly terrified of yet still insists on sitting on. But it doesn't

stop there. Over the next years domestic robots will become more

commonplace and empower humans in a variety of fields, moving

from industry and agriculture to our neighborhoods and homes. A

new digital revolution has already begun.

But where will these robots come from? Living in the Netherlands,

we don't need to look far to find one of the fastest growing hubs in

development of robotics technology. Delft and its surrounding areas,

dubbed RoboValley (after Silicon Valley in the States), is home to one

of the most advanced robotics research and development areas in

the world. The ground in Delft is ripe for a blooming hub in robotics

development as the region is surrounded by industries that already

make use of robotics, such as the Rotterdam harbor and some of the

largest greenhouses in Europe located just a drone's flight away.

"RoboValley is a great environment for companies because of the good start-up climate, stable politics, good internet and energy grid, and being surrounded by a lot of innovative high tech companies that are early adopters of new technologies".

- Claire den Arens, TU Delft

Since the inception in 2015, RoboValley has quickly drawn the

attention of many companies in the field, from local start-ups to

international organizations like the European Space Agency. There

are multiple robotics development hubs scattered around the world,

but what makes Delft special is that in the beating heart of RoboValley

lies TU Delft and its Robotics Institute.

As a global front runner in the field, the university has over 160

researchers from six different departments and thirteen faculties

working together in synergy on fields of bio-inspired mechanical

design, robotic vision, control algorithms and human-robot co-

RoboValley Rise of the Machines

operation, combining the various disciplines to develop robots that

can function with close-to-human efficiency. Joining the force of

the research institute with local start-ups and potential robot users

through partnerships, efficiently links research with the current

demands of the target market, allowing for a quick exchange of ideas

and creating new opportunities to bring new robots quickly to the

market.

"Drones now do our dirty, dull and dangerous work. Next, they will be our fun-providing, flying friends".

- Max Mulder, Professor of aerospace human-machine systems at TU Delft

A distinguishing feature for RoboValley is its strong focus on

empowering humans and improving quality of life, developing robots

not as gadgets for performing dirty work in factories but as friends

and companions that help humans in their everyday lives. Some of

the prototypes to come from RoboValley in the past years include

exoskeletons for people with moving disabilities, robots to assist

with domestic chores, and, one of our favorites, Lea, a robotic walker

frame for elderly patients of with a GPS and an artificial intelligence

system to guide users to their destination (or even come find them

and lead them home if they are lost). These are but a few examples of

how robots will enhance the quality of life and make performing tasks

easier, especially for the elderly population.

In the coming years, development of robotics technology is expected

to have an impact on society paralleling that of the Industrial

Revolution in the 19th century. On all levels, from big industries to

individuals, these developments aim is to empower humans to be

more efficient, mobile and able to perform tasks that may be either

too challenging or just irksome to do. While the debate whether or

not robots should be used to take over some of the more ordinary jobs

traditionally done by humans continues, who can argue against being

able to order a pizza and a defibrillator to be delivered to your house

by a robot on a push of a button?

Words by Arto Salojarvi

Images Courtesy of RoboValley

18 Tessellate 18ToTen

“WHEN THE GOING GETS WEIRD, THE WEIRD TURN PRO”

–HUNTER S. THOMPSON. As so many icons of our time have selfishly left us

behind this year to party with each other in the afterlife,

and in this time of the all-pervasive media saturated

with violence, greed and vapid entertainment, it’s

becoming more and more difficult to recognize one’s

self in the picture of Earth reflecting back at you in pixel

form. So we have to find ways to cope, and I believe that

the answer lies in patterns.

Everything around us in the world is arranged in

patterns. Cell life, behavior, the weather, culture,

everything is connected in an intricate web of

complicated systems. Recognising patterns is a way for

our brain to cool its jets and make sense of this world.

Sometimes, however, the world becomes discordant

when it does not recognise a familiar pattern in

something. This is why cats freak out over cucumbers

occurring outside a cucumber’s natural habitat. Their

brains cannot compute these peculiar phenomena

(which are cleverly and cruelly devised by hoomans for

internet lols, a foreign concept to cats).

Confusion occurs when people cannot easily fit

something into a prepared slot of comprehension in

their brain. Now, these comprehension slots are of

course not the same for every human. Society and the

immediate kinship circle mold these slots into specific

shapes and sizes according to tradition (see? Patterns!).

Sometimes, these slots solidify and are simply

unmalleable anymore. Other times, there is room for

manoeuvre. Bigotry occurs when cats demands an end

to surprise cucumbers in their pattern of living.

What make science fiction, horror and John Waters

exciting to some, is the same thing that makes them

the Devil’s work to others: they emphasize strangeness

and “abnormality.” What eventually keeps us together

is expanding our scheme of patterns and embracing

these idiosyncrasies into them. It’s just like Robert

Fulghum said. “We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little

weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness

is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall

into mutually satisfying weirdness – and call it love.”

Words by Maxime Zech

19 Tessellate

When you think of a stereotypical craft beer brewer, Jasper van den Burg

is not the picture that comes to mind. He is just a regular guy with a love

of beer like any of us. But Jasper has taken his love of beer to the next level

and created a new brew for people of The Hague to enjoy.

Something that makes this beer special is that world domination and Heineken type

success is not what is occupying Jasper’s mind as he promotes his small time craft

brew. Some money to eventually set up a small time brewery where he could employ

locals, and create a space where people can enjoy some good quality beer and learn

about it at the same time, is enough for him. It’s hard not to like Jasper and his dream

- his design and crafted beer could take him a long way on the beer market.

His first brew, the Hof Blond, is hitting the market just in time for the summer and

so far can only be bought at a handful of places. De Gekke Geit on Lutherse Burgwal

has it stocked in its fridges for you to enjoy on its terrace on a summer afternoon.

Otherwise you’ll need to rush to the Slijterij De Markthof on Gedempte Gracht to

pick up a bottle before they run out of their initial 500 litres supply that is already

flying off the shelves and into the happy mouths of beer connoisseurs.

The tones of the Hof Blond, for me, bring together the depth in flavour of a blonde

beer and the fresh and light tones of a white beer. This combination makes for a

dangerously delicious summer beer to be enjoyed on balconies and terraces and

each sip makes you want another one. However beer lovers living a foot further than

The Hague will have to travel to the city to taste and enjoy its summery flavours as

Jasper has no plans or intentions of spreading this golden draught any further, not

even to neighbouring cities like Rotterdam and Leiden. It is a definite must try this

summer and worth the trip from outside The Hague.

Jasper’s second brew, De Baron, is a darker, double beer, which is still in the

experimental phase. It’s expected to be hitting the shelves just in time for the autumn.

Jasper will be combining this beer with the famous Haagsche Hopjes flavours to

bring an extra “Haags“ element to this beer. I think this will be a terrific one!

Words by Leonie Holly

Images courtesy of Eiber Beer/Jasper van den Burg

Hof Blond for the Hof city

20 Tessellate

Words by Jelle van der Meulen

Image by Evi Záborszky

A NEW PLACE TO SURPASS F.A.S.T.?

‘AFTER F.A.S.T., THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE’S MIND WAS: WHAT’S NEXT?’

"Our new project will in some ways be similar to F.A.S.T.’, Geert explains. ‘For us it is important that the atmosphere and sense of freedom will live on; we want to create a place accessible for everyone, where visitors and entrepreneurs can experiment in different ways. In contrast to F.A.S.T. however, surfing will no longer be the main characteristic. What that new characteristic will be, remains a surprise for now."

Good news for The Hague and its cultural scene: former owner of F.A.S.T., (Free Architecture Surf

Terrain) Geert Verhoeff is launching a new initiative that will try to fill the gap the disappearance

of F.A.S.T. left behind.

In the summer of 2015, F.A.S.T., a surf school, bar, hostel and cultural hotspot all in one, closed its

doors for good, to the great discontent of many. With its seemingly limitless range of possibilities

and its unique atmosphere, the surf village had become a popular place for both locals and tourists.

After the closure, former owner and initiator Geert Verhoeff received endless requests to start

something that would be a worthy successor of F.AS.T. Eventually, Geert came together with an

architect and a project developer to start brainstorming about something new.

At the moment Geert and his companions are searching for a new location. ‘With F.A.S.T., the

possible closing was always on our minds, because we knew that it would have to disappear

eventually’, says Geert. ‘This time however we can look for something more permanent and more

sustainable’. With surfing no longer being its core pillar, the new project is not bound to the coast.

The new location will therefore probably lie more centrally located in the city, in a more industrial

setting.

According to Geert, places like F.A.S.T. are indispensable to the city of The Hague. ‘Places like

F.A.S.T. are not merely centres of entertainment, but can also inspire visitors and entrepreneurs

to engage in similar projects. We hope that with our new project we can contribute to making The

Hague an even more liveable and interesting city’.

21 Tessellate

Leiden University in The Netherlands is one of Europe’s

leading research universities. It has been taking

concrete action to innovate and democratise access to

education.

The Centre for Innovation in The Hague serves as its

growth platform, where ideas are shared and projects

fostered. It includes an Online Learning Lab, and

organises regular discussions. These ‘Inspiration Labs’

are open to the public, and involve speakers who share

their knowledge and opinion about a particular topic.

I joined one of their latest sessions in March, which

was in fact about innovation in education. The

discussion centered around defending new ways to

envisage education, as well as the new emerging tools

and opportunities. There is general consensus that

studying should be based on opening minds through

courses that you get to choose and enjoy. However,

more people are proposing making it mandatory for

students to pitch ideas and set up projects within

universities or even companies, developing these

during the hours that aren’t spent taking notes in an

auditorium. They would be creating their own job, in

a way. This is already happening with some students

of Leiden University, who closely collaborate with the

Centre for Innovation.

But what of the broader and continuous access to

education in the future? The answer is Massive Open

Online Courses (MOOCs). Want to take a class on

gastronomy, programming or accounting? Want to

get a certification on negotiation from the University

of Michigan, or on poetry, from the University of

Cambridge? With MOOCs, studying has been made

as easy as ordering food online. You can graduate

online with the equivalent of a degree in science and

economics – courses and diploma included.

Heard about Coursera, by the way?

At this Inspiration Lab session, most attendees

believed that all over the world, MOOCs will continue Words and image by Eline Chivot

INNOVATION, a driver of change for the future of educationInnovation, technology, and the labor market are connected. The former two definitely impact the structure

of the latter and will continue to do so in the future. Though we do not know what future jobs will look

like, economic forecasts anticipate these will increasingly be based on higher educational levels. And the

competition is stiff. Education needs broader access and must adapt, so that professionals can continue to

find their way into the labor market.

to gain in popularity and thus in credibility. Without

denying their potential, I still note that online courses

remain broadly perceived as the side-dishes of formal

education. On many resumes, they are showcased as

extracurricular modules and achievements, suggesting

that this is what you’re doing in your evenings and

weekends. They reflect the curiosity of a professional

about a topic, or the objective of professional growth –

you wanted to develop that particular skill you feel is or

will be needed to foster or switch careers.

Also, I had to ponder the limitations that taking such

directions could involve in terms of access, feasibility,

and equity.

Mostly, the arguments I’ve heard were in favor of a less

elitist education: online courses involve less selective

procedures, and less profiling than formal education

does – at least for now. If you have a computer and an

Internet connection, you can take any course you like.

Besides, building up professional skills next to your

studies gives you a real shot at showing what you’d

be worth once you’re part of the labor market, and to

connect with its stakeholders. But this may not take into

account that we’re not all equals in terms of physical

aptitude, health, social environment, adequate

financial support, access to technical resources. It also

supposes that mentalities of self-achievement, self-

driven attitudes and the ability to be convincing are

capabilities that we all share when hitting the benches

of university.

So, yes, online education is one innovation that

remains primarily in the realm of the ‘first world’, and

the transition to real democratisation and impact

has yet to be achieved. But this trend has started, it’s

spreading, and one thing is for sure: it’s unstoppable.

And it’s going to change the face of education.

Limitations of the school of open

FULL TRANSFERof educational programs to online platforms

LESS HUMAN INTERACTION

EMPLOYERSperception of online degrees as still less credible + Harvard still top notch

COMPETITIONwill it remain fair to online student communities?

EQUALITY ISSUESwill we all have acces to a computer & connection, thus online education?

SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE?

22 Tessellate

L E G U M E S Black Beans: A great source of fiber, manganese,

protein, magnesium and iron, loaded with antioxidants

and great for stabilising blood sugar.

Butter Beans: With their buttery flavour, we love these

in soups, stews, salads or on their own! They can help

lower cholesterol and is high in iron and magnesium.

Chickpeas: Chickpeas are a must-have staple in our

pantry, they give energy and provide antioxidant

effects.

Kidney Beans: These are great for a chilli, soups, stews

and salads, and are a great source of fiber, protein

and iron. They are also great for boosting energy and

stabilise blood sugar levels.

Lentils: These should be a staple in our diet due to

their good source of protein and fibre. They are cheap

and a good filler for any meal which is great for healthy

budget eating.

Words by Azra Secerbegovic

Image by Maxime Zech

The foods in your kitchen are just as important for keeping your skin soft, smooth and radiant as the creams in your bathroom. A well-rounded diet of healthy fats, sufficient proteins, and lots of fruits and veggies will improve your appearance, vitality and health. I’ve been compiling lists of essential ingredients to keep in the kitchen pantry as your basic stock and maybe they’ll inspire you to try and cook something new as well. This issue we will be looking at the best flours, grains and legumes. In the next issues I’ll be detailing herbs, spices, oils, fruits & natural sweeteners, nuts, seeds and superfoods. Let's start cooking, and making our skin glow!

F L O U R S Almond Flour: A gluten free flour substitute with a

sweet and nutty flavour that enhances all baking but

especially sweet pastries.

Buckwheat Flour: Naturally gluten free. High in

flavonoids and magnesium. Can be used instead of

oats, cereal, rice and other grains for both savoury and

sweet foods.

Coconut Flour: Great for gluten free/grain free baking.

Rice Flour: Naturally gluten free and wheat free. Rich

in carbohydrates and low in fat. Mild, plain flavour

and can be used in baking as well as in sauces as a

thickening agent.

G R A I N S

Amaranth: A great source of protein and naturally

gluten-free. High in the amino acid lysine, calcium,

iron and magnesium. Simmer for a porridge like

texture or use instead of rice.

Brown Rice: Brown rice is white rice before all the

processing, still with it's hull and bran intact. Rich in

fibre, calcium, manganese and proteins and known to

help treat candida infections.

Buckwheat: This whole grain is one of the best grain-

based sources of magnesium.

Bulgur: Bulgur is considered a whole grain and is a

great source of iron, magnesium, fiber and protein. The

best part? It cooks in only a few minutes!

Oats: Helps reduce cholesterol, aid digestion and

help support the immune system. This hearty grain is

probably the one we use the most during the winter

season, in warm, comforting bowls of porridge.

Quinoa: A complete protein containing all nine

essential amino acids and it´s gluten free. A good

wheat-free alternative to starchy grains, which is great

used in salads but also wheat-free baking or muesli.

Get your skin to glow from the inside-out

23 Tessellate

With some of the larger pieces like tables and cabinets,

Quintin has managed to marry raw, forgotten materials

sourced in India with practical design to create pieces

that are very simple, yet still have a lot to say. Old door

posts are nailed together to make a frame for a feature

mirror, a tuk tuk rickshaw cut in half makes for an eye-

catching dresser table or bar. This furniture excites, but

is also down to earth in its fair trade practice and focus

on durability.

At its core, Scrapwood hopes to make furniture that you

can truly live with. Every piece of wood, steel, metal

From Scrapwood with Love.

(advertorial)

There’s something therapeutic about walking into Leiden’s Scrapwood furniture store. It’s not just the calming mood created by soft colors and raw materials, or the woody aroma that so easily transports you to East African seaside towns or the bustling streets of Indian cities, but it’s also the atmosphere of easy authenticity. And this is not surprising, because every item in this store has been carefully selected, designed and showcased by store owner Quintin and his family.

and copper Quintin selects has a history; every scratch,

dent and imperfection has a story, and Quintin hopes

that his customers will add to this their own history and

their own stories. It’s very clear that Scrapwood is first

and foremost about love.

Lange Mare 40, 2312 GS Leiden

24 Tessellate

EDITORS CHOICE EVENTS

Internationale Architectuur Biennale RotterdamLasting several weeks, the theme of the architecture biennale (IABR) is ‘The Next

Economy’. Founded in 2001, the IABR produces conferences, film screenings,

lectures, and everything inbetween. It calls itself an incubator for innovation, and

aims to discuss the future of the city, framing architecture as a public concern. If this

sounds up your alley, check it out 23 April – 10 July all over Rotterdam

International Festival of Technology This unique festival combines unlikely pairings like technology innovation,

scientific knowledge and culture in an effort to put Delft on the map internationally.

Combining great music acts with technology seminars and tours gives this festival

so many elements that you can’t help but be curious to explore more. 1st – 3rd June,

all over Delft

Herr Zimmerman Festival – 10 year anniversary After ten years of working together with DJ’s around Rotterdam and south Holland

Herr Zimmerman have finally organised a one-day festival in Delft. With a motto

that encourages you to ‘be yourself’ this is sure to be a festival for all free spirited

techno lovers. Three stages will showcase the acts from near and far with the

highlights including French DJ Vitalic and Herr Zimmerman founders Fraulein Z

and TanzMan. 4th June Lijm & Cultuur, Rotterdamseweg, Delft

Rotterdamse Daken Dagen (Rotterdam’s rooftop days) Thousands of visitors last year saw Rotterdam with a new perspective; from way up

high! Known and unknown rooftops are opened up for you to discover a new view of

the city, to enjoy rooftop concerts and bars as well as sports and children’s activities

all above the regular happenings of the city. Last year it was completely sold out and

voted best new festival so this year we simply have to check it out. 10th – 12th June,

all over Rotterdam

VNTG Kilo Sale

Between 12.00 and 18.00 there will be an opportunity to score some awesome vintage

clothes by the kilo. Chill to some great summer Sunday vibes music while you find

that perfect denim jacket you’ve finally been hoping to pick up after all those trips

to the second hand store. For an affordable €15 per kilo you’re bound to be weighed

down on your way home. 12th June – Gebr. De Nobel, Leiden

Zeehelden Festival One of the oldest and biggest neighbourhood festivals is back in The Hague filled

with live music, street theatre, markets and children’s activities. Having filled

the neighbourhood with much fun and a community vibe for the past 35 years

we’re excited to see the festivities this year around. 29th June – 2nd July, Prins

Hendrikplein, The Hague

De Parade Theatre Festival This summer, for the 26th year, De Parade will be travelling the Netherlands.

Although named a theatre festival, there really is something here for everyone with

100+ theatre, music and dance performances as well as terraces, BBQ’s, good vibes

and summer fun. Catch it in either Rotterdam or The Hague, or both if you are keen,

and enjoy all the wonders that are at De Parade. 23rd june - 3rd July in Rotterdam

Museumpark, 8th to the 17th July in westbroekpark The Hague

Werfpop Festival The free Leiden festival is back this year in Het Leidse Hout. With some great acts

like DeWolff be sure not to miss this one. The festival also features Rico & Sticks

#OPGEZWOLLETOTNU where the experienced hip hop musicians bring their much

acclaimed live show to Werfpop. 17th July, Het Leidse Hout, Leiden

25 Tessellate

In the novel UBIK is a rather ubiquitous spray can which the main

characters seek as part of their salvation. According to Richard

Foster, PR and Communications Manager at worm, it is precisely

this ubiquitous nature of the object that we name was chosen. “The

spray in the novel can be used for virtually anything really,” Foster

explained.

“Early on we posed the question; what is UBIK? And the answer is that

it can be anything you want, that UBIK can be a multifunctional and

multidisciplinary space, that it can be anything or nothing, theater or

dance. It is a place where everything is possible and plays with the

novel’s idea of having a fix all answer to every question.”

The festival itself will be a four-day event filled with promising events

and a line-up of talented writers and musicians. Kevin Donihe, two-

time winner of the Wonderland Book Award for best Bizarro Fiction,

will be a keynote speaker at the event alongside many other talented

science fiction authors. The festival itself is collaborating with the

Phillip K. Dick festival in New York, and will have performances by

several talented artists, including the experimental electronic duo

from San Francisco, Matmos.

Words by Luiz Sanchez

Image by courtesy of WORM

Venues such as Ubik have become more scarce since government

cutbacks in 2015 have made it harder for artists and venues to apply for

government grants. Both the Bonheur theater and De Gouvernestraat

theater were forced to close their doors last year after failing to secure

government grants. In this respect Worm is no less vulnerable. “Worm

is underscored by several funds,” Foster pointed out. “Like any other

organization now we have to be streetwise to survive. The money is

there but you have to come up with good ideas and the pressure is on to

show your mettle.” Thankfully Worm’s relationship with the gemeente

of Rotterdam is solid, and they have managed to secure funding for

this festival from the Mondriaan Funds. “We have to constantly keep

pitching and telling people that what we do here is different, if not

unique. You can never say you will still be there in the next five years.

We keep trying to find new ways to entertain Rotterdam.”

Filling the Gap; theatre and Science Fiction in Rotterdam

Fans of theatre and Science Fiction rejoice, a new venue in Rotterdam’s iconic Witte de Withkwartier is set to open on 9 June. Organised by WORM; a self-described institute for avant-garde recreation; the new UBIK theater will fill the gap left by the closure of two iconic theaters in 2015. UBIK derives its name from a novel written by Philip K. Dick, a legendary science-fiction writer responsible for stories such as Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly and Total Recall. It is then only fitting that the opening of this new theater be celebrated with UBIK: Futurosity, a sci-fi bizarro festival hosted by WORM as part of Rotterdam Celebrates the City and The Art of Impact.

26 Tessellate

SUNDAY THOUGHTnormal gets you nowhere

shop online: www.normalgetsyounowhere.comstore adress: Prins Hendrikstraat 74 - 2518HV Den Haag

tuesday / saturday 11.00-17.30u

organic original shirts, toms shoes, kids shirts, great gifts and many more stuff to fill your closet and make you happy

women - men - kids100% organic & fairtradehandprinted in The Hague

we can also printyour own text

on a shirt

27 Tessellate

Ignorance is blissSkip through any recent news publication in search of the word 'vinyl' and chances are you will find a

recurring pattern throughout; the apparent resurgence of vinyl records is sure not to have escaped

the attention of the average music enthusiast, let alone the media in general. The popularity and

success of Record Store Day, the under-capacity of pressing plants and the renewed interest in

the medium among the general public definitely all seem to be pointing towards such a fact.

Having been pronounced a dead medium multiple times over, it would seem the vinyl

record has succeeded in doing the impossible; it has cheated the uncheatable. The

question remains, however, whether the medium ever really was 'dead' to begin with

– and if it was, at what price it has come to return to the world of the living.

Like many other things, the rise of the internet has in many ways changed the way

we go about living our lives– so much so that this very observation has by now

become somewhat of a tired cliché. The vinyl marketplace, it seems, is far from

being an exception to the rule. The rise of online platforms such as Discogs,

which provides one of the most comprehensive databases of music ever

to have seen the light of day, has enabled anyone that is in the market for

vinyl to instantly possess all of the relevant information needed to make a

well-informed purchase. Though many of these platforms offer their own

online marketplace, their influence is far-reaching enough to have had a

real effect on those who pursue their vinyl-related kicks through visiting

actual, physical record stores as well. Even here, similar online platforms

enable a prospective buyer to know exactly what it is he is buying, where

and when it was pressed, and at what average price point the record is

selling on an almost daily basis.

This development, of course, also works the opposite way around; it

is becoming increasingly rare to stumble upon an established record

vendor who doesn't know exactly what it is he is selling. As a consequence,

it would seem as if it is becoming harder and harder to find the very audible

gems so sought after by many a record collector. With many record stores

now organizing their stock in minute detail, it would seem like a matter

of time before the romance of spending hours flipping through batches of

unsorted records is the next thing to be pronounced dead and gone. If we have

learned anything from the so-called vinyl 'revival', however, it is that anything

worth the time of any given amount of passionate individuals is sure to live on

regardless of what trends dictate.

This much certainly became clear to me on a visit to one of Boston's most well-known

independent record-stores, where an undisputed veteran of the vinyl trade watched over

his precious (and considerably large) collection of unsorted records. Having blown all of my

holiday money right then and there, I felt no regret whatsoever leaving his shop a considerably

poorer man. Though I'd been able to score one or two extra special finds that day, many of the

purchases made consisted of musical works by artists I'd never even come close to hearing of. Would

they be terrible? Would they be amazing? Would they be somewhere in between? Being absolutely

clueless as to the answer to these questions, the desire to get home quickly and listen to my newly acquired

records caused me to walk away from the store at a pace much quicker than usual – reminding myself that the real

musical gold might well have come straight from the dollar bin.

Words by Daniel Taylor

28 Tessellate

Over 200 years old, the Groenesteeg Cemetery is the

final resting place of many of Leiden and the region’s

prominent figures, from mayors to local entrepreneurs,

and even Vincent van Gogh’s mother. Its location

opposite a semi-modern housing development

highlights this graveyard’s history. Still, juxtaposed

against the uniform curves, planes and angles of a

modern block of flats, the soft, quiet and unassuming

atmosphere of Groenesteeg gives it an almost timeless

ambience, a place of eternal and simple serenity.

The future of this graveyard goes hand in hand with

the nature already here. On my visit, a man parked his

bike in the rain to carefully tend to the urban beehives

stacked along the water. Leiden’s Singelpark initiative

also wants to incorporate this cemetery into its plans.

LEIDEN

In the shadows of Leiden’s Meelfabriek, with its

harsh industrial exterior carpeted in graffiti ranging

from the artistic to a repetition of the word “vomit,”

a small cemetery lies immobilised in the peace of its

abandonment. Peeking through the chain link fences

of nearby groundworks, the emerald veil of this

forgotten place vibrates with a quiet intensity.

Words by Maxime Zech

Image by Ed Jansen

Although the names have faded from many of the

tombstones, and there probably aren’t visits to the sites

from direct family members anymore, the cemetery’s

abundant plant life has remained in constant vigil over

the departed. An imposing copper beech tree stands

silently over the graves, its red leaves forever keeping

alight the flame that burned in each of the lives lowered

into the ground. Close by, an ash tree cuts the shape of

a soul in mourning, stooping over the ground. At some

graves, like that of Anna Carbentus van Gogh, sweet and

simple weeds gather with forget-me-nots to eternalize

the light and color of the lives of those who lie beneath

their roots.

29 Tessellate

New sounds in The HagueStudio LOOS provides artists with a space to present their work. It also

functions as a laboratory for research, experimentation, development,

innovation and production of interdisciplinary electro acoustic music,

sound art & audio art, improvisation and composition, monomedia,

bimedia, polymedia and hypermedia.

This hot spot for new music in The Hague is located in the multi-

disciplinary arts building DCR, near the Electriciteitsfabriek. Here

international renowned − or still unknown − artists conduct their

research, can apply for a residence, rehearse, experiment and try out

and present their newest works in public.

Studio LOOS also curates a concert series with performances, lectures

and presentations of local and international artists and researchers.

They utilise the space so that artists and specialists from different

generations, countries, nationalities and disciplines exchange ideas,

experiences, skills and knowledge; they meet and interact with the

general public.

“Essential for LOOS is originality, authenticity, progressiveness, a high standard in performance and ideas, and an adventurous and experimenting mentality and attitude.”

The music performed at LOOS is very diverse, from classical to

avant-garde pop, composed to completely improvised, experimental

electronic computer music to electroacoustic performances with

interfaces in sound art, visual art and science.

Interested? Loos organises a series of performances regularly: the

Ephémère, every second Thursday of the month, where the audience

can experience art works and performances in a different way from

traditional venues and concert halls. Ephémère aims at supporting

the experimental music scene in general, adding diversity in the

music scene of The Hague.

Still interested? Every 4th Thursday of the month there is the

Wonderwerp series. Wonderwerp has been an important platform

for promoting independent, avant-garde and experimental music for

six years now.

Wonderwerp is not dedicated to any particular style or genre of music

and tries to present a wide selection of performers at each concert.

Each edition presents international artists as well as local ones.

Students and graduates from the Royal Conservatory of Music in The

Hague and the Royal School of Art also get an opportunity to present

their work here.

Through its national and international networks, LOOS adds greatly to

the music scene and profile of The Hague as an international creative city.

Words by Rosy Brega

Images by Ed Jansen

30 Tessellate

To Coax an ImageIn an age of instant gratification, with information technology readied

at the tap of a fingertip and the flick of an eyelash for the privileged

savvy, sitting for a selfie is as foreign as Waiting for Godot. Slow

and degrowth movements, while gaining unhurried momentum

since 1986, hardly allay an olympian appetite for faster processing

at higher resolution as we hurtle, headstrong, towards the promise

of quantifiable progress. Desires and data points, neatly tessellated

into purposive patterns, paint a picture of dizzying conformity and

desperate regression.

It is time to pause.

Thirty years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, take a moment to

consider the half-life of radioactive substances. Snapshots of disaster

porn rise to the challenge, perhaps: discomfiting mutations, derelict

buildings, dust and ashes. Take a ride on that Ferris wheel rusting

away, auguring decades of decay still to come. Take a long look at how

this documentary evidence arrests us, repels us, paralyses us and,

in turn, accuses no one and everyone, depoliticises misfortune and

suffering, masks responsivity and responsibility.

Susan Sontag, in On Photography, warns against a photographic

worldview where “the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness

in its acquisitive mood”. John Berger, in About Looking, calls for

an alternative photographic practice to recuperate photography

from capitalist usage where “the camera records in order to forget”.

Whether photographs are captured as aide-mémoire or for immediate

sensationalism, framed to stimulate awareness or philanthropy, or

conceived to evoke empathy or understanding, cameras often signal

spectacle and service surveillance. Whether in explicitly ideologically-

driven regimes or subliminally consumer-focused cultures, social

change is increasingly replaced by a change in images. With the

ubiquity of digital photography, the camera is poised to relieve us of

the burden of memory. This convenience is also a threat: the atrophy

of memory is accompanied by the erosion of the continuities of

meaning and, ultimately, judgment.

It is time to recompose.

We perceive fragments of the world to form ideas, which David Hume

characterises, in Treatise of Human Nature, as those “faint images”

of “sensations, passions, and emotions as they make their first

appearance in the soul”. A photograph, at its best, is precisely such an

idea: coaxed out of time and place, an image that carries this property

of faintness—a lightness and likeness of being—has a duration and a

durability which can re-present across contexts. The exposure time is,

not so strangely, the lifetime.

Words by Cissie Fu

We are looking for more people with a love of words, images,

marketing and imaginative administration. Join a volunteer team

working together to produce a web and print-magazine To10/ToTen

– from the call for submissions to printing and distributing, there’s

need for people with editing, proofreading, layout, or design skills.

For more information, talk to editor@to10.nl,

ToTen would love to hear from you.

Image by Kazuma Obara

Tomoko