Portscapes | Latitudes

‘Portscapes‘ was an evolving series of newly commissioned projects produced and presented by Latitudes throughout 2009 alongside the construction of Rotterdam‘s [51° 55′ N 4° 29’ E] Maasvlakte 2 – the extension to Europe’s largest seaport and industrial area which will be realised between 2008 and 2013 with 2,000 hectare area of reclaimed land (see images here).

With the involvement of Dutch and international artists, ‘Portscapes‘ aimed to consider the physical and conceptual implications of the new lands of Maasvlakte 2, as well as the city-port as a distributive network – a hub of exchange across different registers at once artistic, marine and mercantile.

‘Portscapes‘ evolved around the leitmotif itineraries and destinations by creating events varied in size and scale such as temporary interventions, performances and site-specific audio tours, for example, Portscapes evolved as a cultural guidebook to the port area, focusing on the future and Maasvlakte 2. ‘Portscapes‘ explored the material, historical, artistic, architectural, political, social, ecological pasts, presents and futures of the development as well as the ripe contexts of trade and energy.

Portscapes‘ presented a prologue publication during Art Rotterdam. This ‘self-build’ publication has been designed by Ben Laloua / Didier Pascal with contributions by Jorge Satorre, Paulien Oltheten, Maria Barnas and Erick Wesselo amongst others.

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More info at Portscapes + Latitudes