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Exhibition: Amsterdam, Mediamatic Post CS

Amsterdam 2.0

A constitution which allows 400 cities to inhabit the same territory

A project by Maurice Nio and Paul Perry.

Participating Artists:
Kasper Andreasen & Tine Melzer / Henk Bultstra & Jaakko van ‘t Spijker (SPUTNIK) / Elma van Boxel & Kristian Koreman (ZUS) / Sung Hwan Kim & a lady from the sea / Joke Robaard

with:
polycentricism

While in theory we can appreciate the beauty of legal polycentricism (‘overlapping jurisdiction’), it is difficult to imagine the workings of Amsterdam 2.0’s constitution in practice — at least without concrete examples. If we want the idea of privately produced law to appeal to others we will need a set of model cities to inspire the imagination.

Thus we proposed to commission a series of stories, set within the framework of Amsterdam 2.0’s constitution. Stories which reflected life within the different cities and which highlight the differences between the 400 legal systems operating within Amsterdam 2.0.

Amsterdam 2.0, a project by Maurice Nio and Paul Perry (inside view)Amsterdam 2.0, a project by Maurice Nio and Paul Perry (inside view)

The stories

Tom McCarthy - City of Cards
Nick Barlay - Infinitycity
Tim Etchells - The City of Untried Chemistry
Arjen Mulder , Maaike Post - The City of Homeless Pigeons

Amsterdam 2.0, a project by Maurice Nio and Paul Perry (opening)Amsterdam 2.0, a project by Maurice Nio and Paul Perry (opening)

Following these stories* we proposed to commission five different visual and conceptual projects. Projects which celebrated, explored and questioned the viability of the vision. Projects which in some cases might be seen as calls to citizenship— launched within the heart of old Amsterdam itself.

Amsterdam 2.0: a free market for fundamental citizenship.

*True stories by Nick Barlay, Tim Etchells, Tom McCarthy, Arjen Mulder and Maaike Post, and Dirk van Weelden.