Pipilotti Rist: Het Leven Verspillen Aan Jou
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (NL)



Planning and implementation of permanent interactive public art installation
Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist had a bold vision to activate the public space of the new Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, designed by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, through large-scale video projections.

Over the course of several years of collaboration, we worked closely with the artist to develop a permanent project that seamlessly integrates architecture and light. The installation harnesses the distinctive features of the iconic new building, while simultaneously paying homage to the surrounding landscape and public space.




The resulting artwork consists of a 16m tall sculpture crafted from steel and fibreglass. Its unique and humorous form is mirrored in the museum‘s facade. The ‘head’ of the sculpture spans 6 metres and houses two powerful video projectors that transform the outdoor public space of the museum into an immersive, enjoyable and embodied art experience.
Crafting this sculpture was a unique and pioneering endeavour, not only for our team but also for the local manufacturers and technicians. The project presented many challenges, from the need to create an artistic object large enough to accommodate all required technical infrastructure, to ensuring that it was weatherproof, maintainable, and safe in the public realm. To bring this project to life, we employed a process that involved 3D modelling, physical prototyping and full scale testing on site, which allowed us to refine the design and ensure its feasibility before moving forward with production.



Location: Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (NL)
Year: 2017-21
Client: Pipilotti Rist, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Curators: Sjarel Ex
Collaborators: City of Rotterdam, MVRDV, Blonkstaal, Jules Dock Composites, Pieter Pollemans, Erica van Buchem, Bob van Lieshout, BvB Team, Marco Mooren, Atelier Rist: Nike Dreyer, David Lang, Anne Ciresa, Danielle Küchler Flores, Victoria Holdt
Team: Andreas Lechthaler, Sebastian Koepf, Alcina Lo, Andrea Boito, Natalie Savva
Image credit: ALA/Klaud, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Ossip van Duivenbode
Links: boijmans.nl