A thematic project by Maria Pask (January 2008-March 2008)

As part of the programme Werk in Uitvoering (“Under Construction”) British artist Maria Pask and the Piet Zwart Institute present the project A Perfect Society. Based on the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton and its Hollywood film adaptation of 1937, the piece centers around the mythical subject of Shangri-La, an earthly paradise set in the Himalaya. Shangri-La is often used as a figure of speech to represent something elusive, something that is much sought after and unattainable – an unseen place on the horizon.

In humourous and performative ways, twelve artists from Piet Zwart Institute will deal with questions such as “what is happiness” and “what is a perfect society?”. The subject matter of Lost Horizon will be dealt with not only from its ideological viewpoint, but also by asking how, within such general themes and world views, ideas can be transformed from a collective into a more personal story. The project will be presented as a series of performances and presentations developed in a quick and spontaneous fashion, thereby echoing the subject of “Under Construction” or “Work in Progress” and the idea of collectively building a “perfect” society.

With works by: Isa Andreu Maja Bekan Rachel Carey Jacqueline Forzelius Cornelia Heusser Aline Keller Anke Kuipers Gerwin Luijendijk David Stamp Mirjana Stojadinovic Joshua Thies Esther de Vlam

A project in the framework of the thematic seminar “A Perfect Society” organized at the Piet Zwart Institute by Maria Pask.

The Piet Zwart Institute wishes to thank Passionate and the Rotterdamse Schouwburg for their collaboration and support.