A Commonplace Book
A Commonplace Book is an open information machine that combines the pleasures of note-taking, curiosity and sharing knowledge. The work is devoted to a topic that concerns us all: how we understand, perceive and deal with time. On one side of each table a selection of time-related objects is presented to spark curiosity. On the other side sits a mechanical drawing machine which produces excerpts, drawings, quotes or anecdotes that further challenge our understanding of time.
Visitors are invited to compile their own book with the fragments presented to them here, but also to continue filling the blank pages with their own thoughts, notes or research. The result is a personal book that is not published in a traditional form, but is composed in many different iterations.
Commonplace Books have been made at following institutions:
House for Contemporary Art Z33, Hasselt, BelgiumBIO 26 – Museum of Architecture & Design, Ljubljana, SloveniaNational Institute for Radioactive Waste (NIRAS), Dessel, BelgiumThe New Institute (HNI), Rotterdam, The NetherlandsLuma Arles, Arles, France4th Istanbul Design Biennial – SALT Galata,Istanbul, TurkeyJerusalem Design Week, Jerusalem, IsraelMilan Design Week – Alcova, Milan, Italy
The list of contributors whose personal research fragments can be transcribed in a Commonplace Book Jasmine De Bruycker, Ecole Mondial, Jesse Howard, Ils Huygens, Tim Knapen, Tobias Revel, Jon Stam, Virginia Tassinari, Jon Thomson & Alison Craighead
A Commonplace Book is developed by Commonplace Studio, Jesse Howard, & Tim Knapen
The installation was commissioned and co-produced by:Z33 – House for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem Design Week, and the 4th Istanbul Design Biennial