Acket was inspired by a conversation between the architect Rem Koolhaas and former Kunsthal director Wim van Krimpen, during which they described the hard lines of this ‘uncompromising building’ as follows: “It’s either black or white, there is no grey.” Contrastingly, Acket’s installation focuses on the spaces in between and connects the Kunsthal’s interior space with the exterior space of the publicly accessible ramp.

For Spaces Between Lines, Acket uses textile, light, and air currents to make the invisible spaces between the lines of the building visible. The installation explores the balance between control and surrender and is part of his ‘Einder’ (Horizon) series.

Poetic interactions

In the Kunsthal’s striking HALL 6, a blade powered by a rail system causes swirling air currents that breathe life into the textile. Engineer Merijn Versnel developed this 28-metre-long, innovative control system in collaboration with Studio Boris Acket. The long and narrow canvas in HALL 6 serves as a platform for the blade-generated air currents and mesmerising patterns of movement and light.

Outside, on the ramp, a second canvas is exclusively set in motion by the wind. As a result, the natural wind and the artificial air currents appear to be dancing with each other, blurring the distinction between interior and exterior. As day turns into night, soft shadows and flowing movements engage in poetic interactions that also change the experience of the spectator.