We have been involved in the organization of Amsterdam Light Festival. since 2013. An annual beacon of light in the winter months, offering a stage for artists from all over the world. From the Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei to the Dutch design collective VOUW. The festival welcomes an increasing number of ‘city dwellers’ from Amsterdam, visitors from other parts of the Netherlands and more and more international guests who admire the special light artworks from a boat in the Amsterdam canals or by walking or cycling through the historic city center. The enormous amount of national and international publicity certainly contributes to the ever-growing number of visitors. On social media, in newspapers and magazines, and through word of mouth.
Working with designers is a source of inspiration for us. We have, for example, been collaborating with fashion designer Edwin Oudshoorn since 2013. His work can be admired both on the catwalk as well as in the theatre and in various museum collections - including the Rijksmuseum collection. Many brides have stood at the altar in one of his enchanting creations and his admirers wear his beautiful work on a variety of special occasions. Edwin’s creations are a treat for the eye. He plays with luxurious fabrics, refined accessories and exciting shapes and contours. Coebergh loves facts, but is also fond of dreams and the creative brain that stimulates our imagination.
Healthcare provider Arts en Zorg, which offers almost 200,000 patients primary care through 28 locations in the Netherlands, recently opened the first ever 'digital first general practice': DocLine. It offers patients a digital consult, but they can also use the platform to make an appointment, request medication, view lab results and view their medical file at all times. A first consultation takes place via a video call or by telephone, followed by a physical consultation if desired. According to affiliated general practitioners, the digital first practice is essential to be able to meet the increasing demand for good primary care, while the number of available general practitioners continues to decrease and the demand for primary care increases.
Coebergh was responsible for the media launch of this new organization, resulting in publicity in trade press, the daily newspapers Trouw and het Nederlands Dagblad and an item on Radio 1.
In the spring of 2020, artists Jólan van der Wiel en Nick Verstand were inspired by the interplay of lines and screens that were intended to keep people at a safe distance from each other during the pandemic. It challenged the two artists. Surely this tangle of tape lines, social distancing screens and other tools could be turned into something both more aesthetic and more functional? The idea of the Smart Distancing System was born. A combination of motion-tracking technology and computer-controlled lasers displays a playful game of lines on the ground, its shape depending on the people present and the now-known 1.5 metre distance. Allowing people to easily, intelligently and safely navigate through public spaces. Art that helps society. We have been assisting Jólan in bringing his special projects to light for years, and this is one of our favourites.
