We build and test The Lab
During the first week of March 2025, we built our new production The Lab in Experiment 1 titled [WE GET LOST]. We asked a number of people at the end of the week if they wanted to be immersed in a new world under the guidance of Annemijn Rijk and Theun Mosk in an environment designed by them. An alienating and twisting world in which our perception blurred and getting lost seemed inevitable. The Lab, a title that has now become a working title, will be an analog immersive experience in which you get little guidance except the collective question: Where are we going?
To best collect and share the audience’s experiences and the resulting insights, we are working with Social Designer Tessa Meeus for The Lab. In the upcoming period, Tessa will develop an impact tool that we’ll use to collect audience experiences. For this experiment, she developed an initial feedback document.
Unravel or let go
People oriented themselves predominantly in 2 ways. Way 1 is by wanting to unravel the system to get a grip on it. Way 2 is to let everything wash over them, not concerned with the route or the system.
We don’t know exactly
During the week of testing, we came to some interesting discoveries. We are no longer building a labyrinth, as we first intended. The in between space we are now building has no fixed form yet. It is a space in which, through movement and through your own steps in combination with soundscapes by Aura Bouw and light design by Ruimtetijd, you yourself experience despair and seek hold, or choose or undergo (complete) surrender.
Because we did not want to confine participants to a circular movement, we searched for the middle. Most questions arose at this middle. What was expected of people was sometimes vague. Also, doing nothing created resignation for some, and space for others to think about the supermarket and shopping.
Next week, in test week 2, we will continue to build. We are not inviting test people for this. We will go internal and intimate this time. In June we will have test week 3 and for that we will invite you again – keep an eye on our channels for more info – we will keep you informed and look forward to see and talk with you!
Between dream and nightmare
