Is public space for public?

Again, urban guerilla cooking bombed on a street. It was on April 2nd, between 7pm to 11pm.

It is a part of youth capital program in Rotterdam where our city is hosting young generation from 13 different cities in Europe. As a part of this, we were invited to do a project.
The location was in front of old foto museum at Witte de With straat, it is an icon of cultural street of Rotterdam.
The plan was to highjack the parking spot by obtaining the regular parking tickets. We have laid out wooden chip as an urban carpet, as well as the pink boarder to make the clear boundary to ensure the safety for biker and user of the high jacked area.

Foto 01 : before starting, our supply just arrived around 5pm.

First annoying residence complained that they have lost 24 parking permission of this area and this is outregious act. Well, she also forget that because of much of cultural activities, she benefits being fun living on witte de with straat, because it constantly shows up a culture. But it was pity that she could not promote such an bottom up and welcoming art project. I think she was quite emotional but in a way very selfish. But I also wanted to make harmony with people in neighborhood that I invited for sushi and soup.

Next a dutch girl came close by and started to talk to us with wondering face, so we explained about our action, she was so excited about this and even offer a help. This was more my picture from the beginning and i am happy that happen.

Foto 02 : the girl on a bike was very excited about our action!

Foto 03 : over view ©Taru Arnkil

30min later, just after finishing up the basic layout, the police showed up and ask us for permission.
The commission was granted 10 days before the action date, I knew that it was not possible to make permission but wanted to go for parking ticket method where many cities are experimented like NYC. It is such a shame that they didn’t give us any flexibility. It was such a shame for Witte de With straat as icon of public art, it shows the segment of rather planned and manipulated art street. It was such a shame that now these next generation kids might think about Rotterdam as a boring cities.

Foto 05: this was after clearing up on the street. ©Michael Bom

In the end, we had to move inside. I gave a presentation for how I wanted to approach, participants really understood the potential of it.

Foto 06 : taji giving a presentation ©Michael Bom

By the way, we named this UGC as GH, and the content of this presentation is here :  presenatation PDF

• nigiri sushi and seaweed salad as starter
• stone Fish soup : feel the connection
• Sushi workshop : feel the nature
• Moroccan bread sandwich…dough is truly handmade, not machine made : feel the detail
• Kiwi : feel the world, Rotterdam as a European port for fruits

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Foto 09: non stop action ©Michael Bom

Foto 10 : sushi workshop ©Michael Bom

Event landed nicely to the ending but….Students never wanted to leave….it is great isn’t it?

Foto 11: look at excited people ©Michael Bom

We were delighted in a sense, thanks to many enthusiastic company, organization, people to support this idea, it was Fatboy which is the huge cushion to illuminate street life more exciting, Evisu jeans has provided the costume to fit street illumination in funky feeling, and Rotterdam city cooperation who provided nature material for urban picnic feels. OBR as of City of Rotterdam Development Corporation is the host client of this UGC project.

UGC always would like to corroborate with partner who could excited for same idea. Finally action was completed, we wanted to toast "Kanpai" thanks to all particpants and crew members were from left : Taji the chef, Matilda Bahneva, Fabio Hernandez Palacio, MASAtoshi Oka, Wing-Ni Lam