1 July–6 August 2006 / Casco HQ
During the month of July Casco’s office is partially powered by energy generated by the daily spinning classes of a local fitness club.
Annika Lundgren’s Power and Illumination Project takes advantage of kinetic energy generated by fitness centers, and converts it into electrical energy. Over the past two months Hilco Piel and Steven Steltenpool, and students from Windesheim University, Zwolle, developed a technique allowing energy to be easily gleaned from spinning machines. Spinning bikes at Casco in the gym charge 12-volt batteries, which are exchanged with those in use at Casco on a daily basis in order to redistribute resources that would otherwise go to waste.
Originally conceived as a model for California – where Lundgren calculated that the number of fitness centers offers a legitimate solution to the frequent energy cuts – for Casco, Lundgren has collated detailed information about the potential of this type of energy and the current energy policies in the European Union. Here the focus lies on the relationship between the power source and the power consumption: the extracted energy is utilized to power social and political awareness, thus converting physical power into the power of knowledge.
The Power and Illumination Project is on view at Casco and at the nearby fitness club De Workout, and is open to participation through spinning at both locations.
On 11 July, 7 pm, presentations are given by Annika Lundgren, Lise Skou (Swop Network), and Dominic Hislop & Elske Rosenfeld (Big Hope), followed by a discussion on alternative economies and artistic practice moderated by Emily Pethick.
