The Mobile Unit
<p><u>Background</u></p><p>The idea for this project grew some years ago, when we were confronted by the refugee crisis. Many people asked themselves: <strong>How to be hospitable?</strong> Philosophers write: "To be hospitable, you have to have a home", and maybe that is the problem nowadays?</p><p>After having lived in a foreign country, Ciel Grommen moves back to her hometown in Haspengouw, where she does not feel "at home" anymore. She decides to<strong> research the feelings of home of her seasonal neighbours</strong>, the migrant laborers in Haspengouw —an artistic research project supported by the Flemish government.</p><p><u>Observation</u></p><p>Every year around 20,000 Eastern European workers travel to Belgium to help with the harvest. They work 65 long days for a good salary. Besides the obvious economic exchange, Ciel finds out that <strong>there is not so much of other exchange.</strong> Many workers don’t know much about Belgium. Nor do we know much about them.</p><p>There is one rare place that all workers visit, it is the local supermarket Aldi. People dress up, take selfies and share a drink on the parking lot.</p><p><img alt="" height="148" width="110" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523437/20157931_1744874495805797_8627109361227899531_o-1528213382.jpg" /></p><p><u>Project</u></p><p><strong>This observation leads to a collaboration between a group of artists (vzw </strong><a target="_blank" href="www.vzwheisa.be">Heisa!) </a>and <strong>locally engaged youngsters (</strong><a target="_blank" href="www.biejke.be">Jeugdhuis ‘t Biejke</a><strong>)</strong>.<strong> Together they plan to develop <em>The Mobile Unit </em>in Borgloon</strong>, the town with the biggest density of migrant workers (1/5th of the population) in Haspengouw.</p><p><img alt="" width="100%" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523229/Screen_Shot_2018-06-01_at_16.21.40-1528183138.png" /></p><p><strong><em>The Mobile Unit</em> is a "public space for a private time", "a house for seasonal neighbours". </strong>It will be placed <strong>nearby the Aldi. </strong></p><p><strong>From 29th of July until the 30th of August </strong><strong>it will be the centre of everyday coffee moments. </strong>(An archive of drawings will be made, based on these exchange moments.) <strong>During 3 weekends socio-cultural activities will be organised for a large audience </strong>(BBQ, movie screenings, talks).</p><p> </p><p>This house on wheels or ‘containermonument’, is designed by Maximiliaan Royakkers and Ciel Grommen. The archive will be made in collaboration with Dieter Leyssen. The 3 of them met when studying architecture in Leuven. Ciel and Max chose to enlarge their practice with fine arts afterwards and Dieter developed skills in academic research.</p><p><img alt="" width="100%" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523228/20180604_215445-1528183119.jpg" /></p>
<p>We need your support to finish the deal!</p><p>· The <strong>construction</strong> of “The Mobile Unit” >>> 2 700 EUR</p><p><img alt="" height="129" width="149" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523231/Screen_Shot_2018-06-01_at_15.39.49-1528183232.png" /><img alt="" height="142" width="263" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523232/Screen_Shot_2018-06-01_at_15.40.05-1528183251.png" /></p><p>· Promotion and communication: graphic design, website, posters, social media >>> 600 EUR</p><p>· The organization of free <strong>activities</strong> >>> 700 EUR</p><p>--Movie screenings</p><p>--A big BBQ on the 27th of August</p><p>--Talks</p><p><img alt="" width="100%" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523230/IMG_1853-1528183222.JPG" /></p><p>All money will be deposited on the account of vzw Heisa!, and used exclusively for this project.</p><p>In case we collect more than 4500 euro, we plan to use the money for the publication of this archive of <strong>stories from the field</strong>. A preliminary design of this book has already been made.</p><p><img alt="" width="100%" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/523233/Screen_Shot_2018-06-01_at_15.43.41-1528183323.png" /></p>