ABSTRACT
In 2.010, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science invited Ronald and Erik Rietveld, brothers and founders of the artists’ collective raaaf, to represent the Netherlands at the Venice Biennale. ‘That was a real milestone,’ says Ronald. ‘We wanted to take the stage and make a political statement about the potential of ten thousand vacant public and governmental buildings: Vacant nl.’ Erik adds: ‘Namely, that it is absurd that in the Netherlands we leave all these potential spaces for young artists and scientists vacant instead of using them to attract talent and provide good workspaces.' The brothers explain that this use does not have to be permanent; temporary use would be an excellent solution. ‘There are so many vacant buildings that you could stay in one for three months to even a few years and then move to the next for another period. We call this sequential temporality,’ says Erik, the philosopher of the duo. ‘Don't give money, but the keys,’ became one of their slogans.
