Cox & Grusenmeyer

Frederik Croene website

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:31:11 +0000

Webdesign for Frederik Croene, a belgian, willful pianist.

Frederik Croene is a conceptual pianist who deconstructs the idea of a virtuoso pianist in elaborate performances. For the design of his website we decided to reference this aspect of his work by playing with the idea of a deconstructed partiture.
At the same time the website is built as a simple archiving tool where categories ranging from soon and now to past offer space to manage a time based archive.
www.frederikcroene.com

Van Kruin tot Kwast

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:29:15 +0000

What do you need in order
to be a real artist?
For the opening of the new academy year at Sint-Lucas
Gent Cox & Grusenmeyer set up ‘The Brush Factory’, a temporary service offered to the students as an initiation ritual for their artistry.
In a factory-like setting, where every step of the production process was visible, students could order a personanized
brush made of their own hair.

Eyes of Vanity

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:18:58 +0000

Mimicking the idea of seduction through representation this kaleidoscopic collage of paper hands and eyes expresses the layered idea of vanity. Advertising as part of the series ‘The Wall of Vanity’ for Sevens Lederwaren.

The Citizen Speech performance

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:54:51 +0000

The Citizen Speech is a presidential speech held by the president of The Chimerican Union for a single citizen. As the word says it, The Citizen Speech aims to closely connect the life of citizens to politics.
In order to receive a personalized Citizen Speech, citizens of The Chimerican Union can fill in The Citizen Speech Inquiry after which all the answers are translated in a presidential speech.

On the occasion of The Future Is So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades – the graduation show of The Sandberg Institute – the president of The Chimerican Union directed his speech to a citizen called Alex The Manager. A career hunter
type of citizen who greatly inspired The Chimerican Union. Politics to the citizens!

Play: Victor Westerkamp
Thanks to: Hans Schrumpf


The Citizen Speech was conceived as a participatory event where all citizens were invited to communally shout their beliefs. Citizens were invited to take over the protest signs and shout along Union, Change, March On, Revolution, Action and Loopholes!

The Citizen Speech

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:54:24 +0000

The Citizen Speech is a political inquiry where citizens of The Chimerican Union are questioned on their political beliefs. By linking the personal to the political The Citizen Speech acts as a psychological test where simple daily habits can become very political.

Simultaneously the citizens’ answers are used to establish citizenship-style categories such as Alex The Manager, Annie The Nurse, or Preston The Banker. These categories function as focus groups upon which the design of the political power is determined. The direct result can be seen in The Citizen Speech performance where the president of The Chimerican Union outputs a personalized speech for a person who filled in The Citizen Speech inquiry.

Seven Statements

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:23:20 +0000

How do you make a concrete
object showing the idea of something abstract like a ‘vision’?
Humans, as part of an economy driven society, are often naturally forced into a situation to sell themselves by proving what they stand for, what their vision in life is. How would an accessory for this specific task look like? What for example do you wear when going for a job interview? In the collection ‘vision statements’ there are
seven different ‘ways of seeing’ available. These can be used as a visualization of a personal and professional resumé. Being made out of transparent polystyrene, the accessories are very comfortable
to wear. One wearing a vision statement will be a master of communication.

Vision Statement number 1:
OPEN-MIND — everything is possible and life has to be lived from day to day.

Vision Statement number 2:
JOY — the joker face can be utilized in a very quick way, the surrounded individuals can be pleasantly surprised at any moment.

Vision Statement number 3: MANIPULATION — hypnotic capacities will be celebrated and a spell will be put on others. Vision Statement number 4: ORGANIZATION — B follows after A, that’s how simple it is.
Vision Statement number 5: PASSION — eyes can radiate and the inner flame will be set free.

Vision Statement number 6: AMBITION — life is seen as a constant challenge, the sky is the limit! Vision statement number 7: LOGIC — for every problem there is a solution, trust the common sense.

Theatre of the Best Books

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:21:24 +0000

The Hypnotic Tycoon: an embodiment of ‘What You See
Is What You Get’ — the autobiography of Alan Sugar

“Each year Werkplaats Typografie organises its own Best Book selection. Every participant chooses a book that is important for him in that year. This year artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx directed a series of acts in which the participants became their most significant book. Gradually the students started utilizing costume, props, light and sound to create a theatre of best book. Despite being amateur thespians, the theatre was a serious attempt to assume a character based on the interpretation of a book. Perhaps one can be lead to a new reading of each significant book, an experience that is both insightful and bewildering.”

Workshop guided by Joëlle Tuerlinckx, with Boris Van den Eynden, Grégory Dapra, Manuel Zenner, Laure Giletti, Lu Liang, Corina Neuenschwander, Noah Venezia, Ine Meganck, Stefano Faoro, Mark Simmonds and Roland Früh.

De vertoning

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:20:05 +0000

“A plea for individuality and imagination. Society and religion in the Netherlands. — In this colorful and richly illustrated book Suzan ten Heuw and Onno Zijlstra focus on extremities in society and religion. The individual sees his freedom as a burden and escapes into consumerism, group culture, fundamentalism and virtual worlds. The authors call on the individual and his imagination. Art and literature play a central role in the book, they reflect on the critical situation and show an example of genuine individuality.”

Ther Black Marrrket, in ther shadow of ther WT bookship…

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:19:02 +0000

Aye aye, let’s get down to business… In ther shadow of ther permanent WT bookship at Ther Beginning of Year Show, therrre will be an underground economy thet provides ’nlicensed reprints of ’ntouched content. It’ll be a black marrrket with swingin’ prices, exciting treasures and arbitrary opening hours. A true battle against ther mighty waves of ther current ocean. Yes, therrre will be great dangers on our pad, therefor this project asks for discretion and I can not give any more d’tails. All aye have left to say is that I’d love to drop my anchor in ther lagoon of Werkplaats Typografie. Arrr you with me? Yours, Captain Bhook (flag thanks to paul elliman and boris van den eynden)

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:22:35 +0000

Dear All,
you are cordially invited to
the first public speech by the president of The Chimerican
Union, on the occasion of
The Future is So Bright I
Gotta Wear Shades.
Be part of this incredible historical momentum and take part in the democratic course that The Chimerican Union will take!
Step up for democracy and
demand your Citizen Speech.

RSVP online here.

Text by Cox & Grusenmeyer

Play by Victor Westerkamp