On Saturday 27 September the exhibition Signed, Jo Coenen opens at Bureau Europa. Although his recent appointment as curator-director of IBA Parkstad shows his career is far from over, Coenen's 65th birthday marks the occasion for an exhibition focusing on his sketches.
'Sketching is an expressive forecast, in a drawing, of something that might become.'
Through the richness of Jo Coenen's drawings, insight is given into the formation of a design, and how the various decisions lead to the eventual manifestation.
Over the years, Jo Coenen has amassed an archive of over 7700 sketches: drawings that have not previously been shown to the public. The images provide an insight into the searching and vulnerable phase in which the designer, often within a complex context full of contradictions, fumbles for the optimal design solution. Imagination – the basis of design – is best seen in the sketching process.
The seven projects selected for the exhibition illustrate the diverse origins, scales, and themes – such as time, transformation, and crafts – within Jo Coenen's oeuvre.
In addition, a cinematic portrait will focus on his role as doyen and professor, as the state-architect of the Netherlands, and – not least – on what he means to Maastricht and the Euregio. It also briefly looks ahead to his ambitions as the curator-director of IBA Parkstad.
Program Signed, Jo Coenen
Topos Lecture
On Monday 29 September, Topos is organising an evening in which Frits van Dongen, Huub Smeets, and Jo Coenen will talk about the New Design, and Building Assignment.
Date: 29 September 2014
Time: 20:00 – 22:30
Location: Jan van Eyck Academie
Guided Tour
On Saturday 4 October 2014, Jo Coenen will give a guided tour of Maastricht. After a coffee and vlaai reception at Bureau Europa, Coenen will guide you along some of his buildings. The tour is an opportunity to see the city through the designer’s eyes. During the walk, we’ll reflect on the philosophy behind the architecture and the city planning. What are the underlying thoughts behind the Mosae Forum shopping and office complex? How can the relationship between the river and the city be strengthened? What can we learn from Maastricht’s Céramique district? The walk concludes at Ipanema for a drink.
Date: 4 October 2014
Time: 12:30 – 16:00
Cost € 7.50
Language: Dutch
Starting point: Bureau Europa
The number of participants is limited, so please register via info@bureau-europa.nl with ‘Rondleiding Jo Coenen’ as the subject
Very Contemporary
As part of Very Contemporary, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, you can explore, by bus, the visual arts scene in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The Contemporary-Art-Bus takes you from place to place across borders to visit various art locations. Bureau Europa will be a participating destination of the bus tour. For more information and reservations, www.verycontemporary.org
Bureau Europa’s annual program devotes attention to the imaginary. This exhibition is also part of the long-term program Helden van Hier (Heroes from Here), central to which are the stories, designers, and themes relevant to the Euregio.
Signed, Jo Coenen
opening on september 27th
Was getekend, Jo Coenen
Was getekend, Jo Coenen - drawing event
