The Mobile Unit, Dwelling with Seasonal Neighbours

<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: &quot;To be hospitable, you have to have a home&quot;, 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 &quot;at home&quot; anymore. She decides to<strong> research the feelings of home of her seasonal neighbours</strong>, the migrant laborers in Haspengouw &mdash;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&rsquo;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 &lsquo;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 &quot;public space for a private time&quot;, &quot;a house for seasonal neighbours&quot;. </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>&nbsp;</p><p>This house on wheels or &lsquo;containermonument&rsquo;, 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>