Festival: Cherish or Destroy

Being, becoming, preservation, decay, conservation, innovation, progress, loss, life, death, Cherish or Destroy. Wherever we create, whether in practical, conceptual, or aesthetic endeavors, we draw from the past to shape, improve, or, in other words, change our environment, thereby building our culture. Change is an inevitable phenomenon; we cannot stop the passage of time, and thus, the cycle of becoming and transience. However, humans hold a unique position as we possess the ability to reflect upon its process and intervene consciously. Both the arts and architecture revolve around these processes of creation and change. Whether something entirely new emerges in unexplored territory, or existing structures yield to innovative designs, a fundamental question arises: To what extent should we consider existing structures when creating something new? Is there a tangible or spiritual boundary that ought not to be crossed, an ideal guiding us on what to cherish and what to destroy? 

Through the program, we explore the essence of this discourse – navigating the delicate balance between preservation and innovation that lies at the heart of discussions surrounding our ongoing creative relationship with the past and the future. The main goal of this event is to examine, through the thematic juxtaposition of ‘Cherish’ versus ‘Destroy’, the fundamental principles underpinning these concepts from the broadest possible perspectives.

Registration

You must registrate and buy a ticket for this event. It costs €5 for students and €15 for regular visitors (including lunch) and can be bought here.

More information

Please visit the website of Kunstcentrum WEST DEN HAAG or send an email to Alexander de Ridder for more information.