Bik Van der Pol

Since 1995, Rotterdam artists Liesbeth Bik and Jos Van der Pol have drawn from their immediate surroundings to create architecture-inspired installations. Displayed in art museums and galleries, the duo's spaces and interiors do not merely reproduce physical constructions but also copy their functions and uses in an ongoing attempt to tease out the essential meaning and purpose of these very spaces. With their “constructive criticism” installations, Bik Van der Pol deliberately seek to influence cultural spaces and transform them in a constructive manner by adding what might be lacking or by illuminating things like signage, which is sometimes obscure. This publication is the first comprehensive overview of Bik Van der Pol's projects since the artists began working collaboratively a decade ago. Seven essays by leading authors draw attention to the breadth and significance of their methodology. The selected projects are thus placed within a critical framework that allows interpretation by and inspiration for artists, architects, designers and theorists.