Do you already know Speculative Futures Amsterdam ?

Speculative Futures Amsterdam is the Amsterdam  region chapter of the global community of Speculative Futures. They organize meetups about future thinking, speculative design, critical design and future visions.

What is Speculative Futures Amsterdam?

Speculative Futures Amsterdam, a local chapter of the global platform Speculative Futures.

Speculative Futures is an international community of meetups focused on Speculative & Critical Design, Design Fiction, Futurism, and Strategy & Foresight and any vision or approach which involves using design as a vehicle to speculate about potential or alternate futures. Are you also interested in those topics and want to join for a meetup? Or perhaps want to share your speculative design project? Stay tuned and follow us on our meetup page or instagram page

We host speakers — practitioners, designers, artists, teachers, students, and other professionals who will be talking about relevant praxis and methods and inspiring projects about future thinking and envisioning futures.

We also host workshops that will allow you to learn how to conduct and apply futures thinking in a variety of circumstances as a method of synthesis and strategy.

Impression of activities of Speculative Futures Amsterdam.

Who are the driving forces of Speculative Futures Amsterdam?

The Speculative Futures Amsterdam chapter is founded by Theo Ploeg of Studio Hyperspace together with Mick Jongeling. The Speculative Futures Amsterdam chapter is now led by Shauna Jin, Program Head of Digital Society School and Nicole Spit of DesignStudio Dáárheen.

Impression of Speculative Futures Amsterdam activities. 2 With initiator Theo Ploeg en co-leads Shauna Jin and Nicole Spit.

Shauna Jin, organizer and co-lead of Speculative Futures Amsterdam is a curious designer, thinker and doer who is passionate about sustainability. She is also program head of the Digital Society School (part of the Amsterdam University of applied sciences, at the Digital Society School they research the impact of technology on society, develop the skills necessary to guide the transformation and pass on this knowledge and these skills to a new generation of professionals.)

Nicole Spit, organizer and co-lead of Speculative futures Amsterdam. Nicole is a speculative designer, originating in productdesign, and owner of design Studio Dáárheen. ‘I convert striking findings or issues that amaze me from my (trend-) research into speculative design and art objects’.

Theo Ploeg, initiator of Speculative Futures Amsterdam,SFA ambassador and in his own words “Renegade sociologist caught up in design, uses speculative design to tell meaningful and positive stories of alternative realities’. Theo is owner of Studio Hyperspace.

What is Speculative Design?

With speculative design, a tool for future thinking and creating, we try to focus on the preferred futures. We cannot predict the future, there are many different possibilities, but we can think about possible futures based on current developments. We can also use ‘Backcasting’, backcasting is a planning method that starts with defining a desirable future and then works backwards to identify policies and programs that will connect that specified future to the present.

Speculative Futures cone. Aim for preferable futures

Are you also interested in Speculative design and Future thinking and do you want to join for a meetup? Or perhaps want to share your speculative design project? Stay tuned and follow us on our meetup page or instagram page . We would love to welcome you in our community and are also interested in your thoughts.

Future Vicia Faba – ‘Digestible’

Studio Dáárheen participates in the group exhibition 'Digestible' at Artphy.
Artist and speculative designer Nicole Spit gives her vision of the field bean of the future

Studio Dáárheen participated in the group exhibition ‘Digestible’ at artcenter Artphy in 2023.

Artist and speculative designer Nicole Spit gives her vision of the field bean of the future in 6 works of art. On display are her works of art, alienating and exciting objects, in which nitrogen nodules, ‘field bean blood’ and future agriculture are discussed.

An art-science research project with speculative design object concerning the field bean ‘Vicia Faba’. The field bean is a prospect for the proteïn transition in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands.

What is so special about this crop? How can we make it future proof? What is going to be the future of agriculture in this area if we listen to the farmers living in this area? The nitrogen fixing possibilities of the field bean are much needed in the current agriculture plans of the Netherlands. Are there ways to alter the crop with genetic modification, so that we can make it maximum beneficial for humans ánd for nature?’.

'Future Vivia Faba'. Nitrogen fixing root nodule artwork by speculative designer Nicole Spit from Studio Daarheen at artcenter Artphy.

^ Here we see an enlargement of tubers of a field bean plant, showing the pink red fleshy inside.

Legumes, including the field bean, can fix nitrogen from the air in collaboration with ‘Rhizobacteria’ living in the soil and store it in root tubers. These root nodules arise after an infection of the bacteria. This infection is not dangerous for the plant, in fact, both the bean plant and the rhizobacteria benefit from it.

A hair root curls around the bacteria, after which an infection thread is formed. The bacteria can enter the root through these tubes and form root nodules there. The bacteria continue to live in the root of the field bean, with both the rhizobacteria and the plant benefiting from this cooperation. The bacteria ensure that nitrogen from the air is converted into usable nitrogen for the plant in exchange for sugars supplied by the plant.

The root nodules contain leghemoglobin, an iron-containing substance that, just like our blood, can bind oxygen and gives the nodules a pinkish color. The oxygen concentration is low enough not to interfere with nitrogen fixation, but high enough for the bacteria to breathe.

Exhibition 'Digestible' ('Verteerbaar') with art from speculative designer Nicole Spit.

Could be seen at art space Artphy on from August 5 until October 22 2023.
This special group exhibition, dedicated to the protein transition, presents new works by international artists:
Anna Dumitriu, Ana Kun/Dan Perjovschi, Marc Bijl,
Mitzi Schreuder, Dasha Tsapenko, Nicole Spit, Maro Pebo, Danielle van Vree, Špela Petrič and Domenique Himmelsbach de Vries.

The exhibition promises to be a unique experience, in which art in relation to the protein transition is central.

The official opening was at August 5 by Tjeerd Jongsma,
director of Institute for Sustainable Process Technology and Fascinating.

Ten artists from Europe and South America, several scientists, performances, lectures and a concert…

Under the umbrella ‘Digestible’, the name of this exhibition, Artphy is developing many activities this summer.

Where: Kempkebosweg 4 , 9591VG Onstwedde
When: The exhibition at Artphy can be visited freely on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 13:00 to 17:00.

Or by appointment. Tel: 0653236241 The expo runs until October 22 in 2023.

Nicole Spit & Eveline Mooibroek duo-exhibition at KFR 2023

Nicole Spit & Eveline Mooibroek duo-exhibition at ‘Kunstfietsroute Castricum 2023’.

Nicole Spit & Eveline Mooibroek duo-exhibition at KFR Castricum 2023

Invitation to the duo-exhibition of Nicole Spit and Eveline Mooibroek at the Art Route Castricum 2023

Invitation to the duo-exhibition of Nicole Spit and Eveline Mooibroek at the Art Route Castricum 2023. Kunstfietsroute Castricum

This year the two artists will present themselves together on the Kunstfietsroute in Eveline’s studio. This results in an interesting meeting in which they look for common ground in their work, both visually and in terms of content.

— Nicole Spit—
Nicole Spit is an artist and speculative (future) designer. Speculative design imagines futures based on current technological and social developments.
A recurring theme in her work is the tension between synthetic nature, manipulated by human intervention, and biologically grown nature.
This often produces alienating and sometimes bizarre images.
For example, for her ‘Digital Tree Monument’ she digitally converted trees into 3d software to a virtual world and 3d printed them. She also works with Artificial Intelligence creation and researches the possibilities of genetic modification.
What could future nature look like?’

— Eveline Mooibroek —
Eveline Mooibroek’s artwork is about our perception, about the functioning of the senses and about appearances and reality. About the feeling of not being completely at ease or at home in the world we have created. Eveline is inspired by the cultivated and manipulated environment. In her work, life is frozen and frozen in an alienating way.
We don’t immediately know what we see. Eveline makes awkward and sometimes incongruous art. Her world is one of contrasts and contradictions. The artificial beauty, and the beauty of the ugly: she tries to bring it together into one image.’

Stop 10 of the Art Route Castricum 2023

Date :

Sat 3 and Sun 4 June – 10am/5pm

Location :
Pernéstraat 31
1901 AV Castricum

‘Digital Tree Monument’ exhibition until Februari the 1th 2023!

The Digital Tree Monument (soon at https://digitaalbomenmonument.wordpress.com/ ) is an art project by Nicole Spit to digitize trees from the Castricum area and place them in a virtual dream world. Still on show, extended until Februari the 1th ! At Huize Koningsbosch, Heereweg 84, Castricum.

In my artproject ‘Digital Tree Monument’ I selected eight trees in Castricum, which all represent a specific tree threat. Like nutrient-poor soil. urbanization, tree diseases, drought, salinazation. Some, like the old chestnut tree at Huize Koningsbosch or the old Willow at the ‘Tuin van Kapitein Rommel’ have already been felled and live on in the digital world.

We can restore stone monuments, but unfortunately not old monumental trees. How could we preserve them, with their specific phenotypic properties? Is a digital arboretum in a metaverse perhaps an alternative?

Opening of the Digital Tree Monument Exhibition by the Alderman of the municipality Castricum. Digital Tree Monument created by Nicole Spit
Opening of the Digital Tree Monument Exhibition by Alderman Brouwer of the municipality Castricum. (foto: R. Redmijer)
Visitors scan the digital prints to see the extra animation layer. Digital Tree Monument created by artist Nicole Spit
The 2d prints can be scanned with an augmented reality app for an extra animation layer.
Digital Tree Monument 3D printed trees of Castricum in their digital world.
3D printed trees of Castricum in their digital world.
Digital Tree Monument book with scannable images with animation layer.
‘Digitaal Boment Monument’ book, (Dutch, hardcover, full color, 32 pages. With AR scannable images)

Digitaal Bomenproject

Als kunstproject voor de gemeente Castricum zal Nicole Spit in 2022 een digitaal bomenproject verder onderzoeken en uitwerken.

photogrammetry van een Castricumse boom

Tijdens de COVID Lock downs merkten veel mensen dat ze behoefte hebben aan energie uit de natuur, bos en bomen om zich heen. Onze bewustwording over de waarde van bomen verandert. Steeds meer bomen verdwijnen door kap of bosbranden of door een andere kijk op natuurbehoud. Daarom wil ik onderzoeken of we monumentale bomen wellicht behouden door ze digitaal op te slaan in Virtual Reality?

Ik wil door middel ‘Photogrammetry’ en speciale 3dsoftware, namelijk ‘Blender3d’, bomen digitaal in 3d vastleggen. Ze leven dan als het ware voort, als digitaal monument, in een virtuele droomwereld.

Mijn plan is om een aantal karakteristieke oude bomen uit de gemeente Castricum of regio, vast te leggen door ze te scannen en digitaal om te zetten.

Per boom zal ik zodoende een digitaal gerenderde fotoprint met daarover een korte digitale AR filmlaag waarin de boom de ‘hoofdrol’ heeft in zijn digitale droomwereld, creëren.

Daarna wil ik met deze boomgegevens in september een mooie tentoonstelling inrichten, waarbij ik de mensen uit Castricum en regio, bewust wil maken van de waarde van oude karakteristieke bomen uit hun eigen omgeving, van (verdwijnende) natuur, van nieuwe technieken en  verbondenheid kweken met de natuur in de regio Castricum.

Het gehele proces wil ik ook vastleggen en laten zien. Vind je het leuk om te zien hoe en wat er allemaal bij komt kijken? Dan is dat proces is binnenkort te volgen op, onder andere deze site Art.studiodaarheen.nl op https://digitaalbomenmonument.wordpress.com/ en op instagram @digitaalbomenmonument . Kijk je ook mee?

Zie ook verlengd tot 1 februari 2023 ‘Digitaal Bomen Monument ‘ expositie in Huize Koningsbosch in Castricum’

‘Oase der Muzen’ kunstexpositie met Nicole Spit in Castricum

De ‘Oase der Muzen’ kunstexpositie is van 6 t/m 10 september met een mooie kunst en landart-expositie en als plek om je op te laden! Verlengd tot en met 25 September!

Op de mooie doorstroom- buitenlocatie in de tuin van Kapitein Rommel met Wellness, kunst klank en gedicht en bijzondere activiteiten op inschrijving. De land-artgroep ‘de Feniks’ (Anja Jonker ,Marije Duthler, Nicole Spit) exposeert door de gehele tuin met bijzondere natuurlijke landart. Suzanne van Reenen maakte tuindichtjes gebaseerd op deze specifieke tuin. In het witte tuinhuis exposeert Nicole Spit.

Nicole Spit is speculatief conceptdesigner en kunstenaar en vertaald toekomstvisies in kunstobjecten.

Bomen

Digitaal boommonument. Tijdens de COVID lockdowns merkten veel mensen dat ze behoefte hebben aan energie uit de natuur, bos en bomen om zich heen. Steeds meer bomen verdwijnen door kap of bosbranden. Kunnen we monumentale bomen wellicht behouden door ze digitaal op te slaan in virtual reality? Nicole Spit heeft door middel ‘photogrammetry’ en speciale software bomen digitaal in 3d vastgelegd. Ze leven als het ware voort, als digitaal monument, in een virtuele droomwereld.

Boom vastgelegd met photogrammetry door Nicole Spit voor de expo Oase der Muzen in Castricum. Tuin van kapitein Rommel.
Boom vastgelegd door Photogrammetry – Nicole Spit
Digitaal boommonument van Nicole Spit in virtuele droomwereld op expo Oase der Muzen in Castricum. Tuin van Kapitein Rommel
Digitaal Boommonument in virtuele wereld

Synthetische boomwortel communicator. Bomen kunnen communiceren met elkaar en de ondergrondse wereld via het Wood Wide Web, het mycelium schimmelnetwerk onder de grond. Zouden we via een synthetische boomwortel-communicator met deze ‘gesprekken’ mee kunnen praten, door signaalstoffen te monitoren en toe te voegen?

Synthetische Boomwortel Communicator van Nicole Spit op de expo Oase der Muzen in Castricum. Tuin van Kapitein Rommel
Synthetische Boomwortel Communicator

ZON

Cyanotype sunprints. Nicole Spit heeft de energie uit de natuur ook vertaald in ‘Cyanotype-Sunprints’, waarbij er mysterieuze beelden ontstaan. Cyanoprint is de fotografische techniek waarbij de zon inwerkt op chemicaliën en contactafdrukken van planten achterlaat.

Cyanotype sunprint van Nicole Spit op de expo Oase der Muzen in Castricum
Cyanotype sunprint van Nicole Spit

Chloroplast BioTattoo. In een speculatief design kunstproject van Nicole, laat ze zien hoe we wellicht in de toekomst gebruik kunnen maken van fotosynthese van planten, door bladgroenkorrels in de huid te integreren.

Dier met groene bio fotosynthese tatoeage. NeoBio
Dier met groene bio tatoeage waarin energie wordt opgewekt d.m.v. fotosynthese.

Waar te zien? In de Tuin van Kapitein Rommel (ingang schuin tegenover het station) in Castricum, in het witte tuinhuis.

Wanneer? van maandag 6 september t/m vrijdag 25 september. 09:30 uur- 16:30uur.

Er is ook de mogelijkheid om wat te snacken en te drinken.

Lecture ‘Speculative design and Forests’ at VOTE-festival

‘In this intriguing lecture, speculative designer Nicole Spit will take you to the world of tomorrow. Speculative design explores plausible future design products and scenario’s based on current developments and existing recent scientific knowledge.
Nicole reflects in her art and design often on the tension between the makeable, manipulable and the idiosyncratic character of biological nature. This time she raises questions about future products in relationship to our forests. What if we could use a ‘Synthetic Tree Root Communicator‘ to interfere with the myceliumnetwork underneath the trees, the Wood Wide Web? What if we use genetic manipulated plants or animals in our forests? Should we discover the soil world underneath us like the deep sea and space? How can we merge forests and urban design?
Speculative design can be a great inspiration and discussionstarter for designers, business, students, scientists and everyone who influences the future. Thus, also for you.’

Where : Vibe of the Earth festival at the ecovillage Bergen

When: 19 and 20 September 2020

Participant of Residency program

Nicole in Corona times in Residency program of Fillip Studios and Future Based
Nicole in Corona times/COVID lockdown, in the Residency program

In 2020, during the COVID lockdown, I participated in the Fillip Studios X Future Based Residency program. I was working with a small team on an ‘Interdisciplinary Intervention’ case for ArtEZ University of the Arts and Radboud University for the minor ‘Create Space‘. Create Space offers the space and opportunity to research, prototype and share a vision on possible futures. This will be driven by fundamental questions related to the societal, environmental or scientific challenges of the next generation.

Artdrawings by ‘De Spit Smuis’ at Castricumse Etalage Kunst CEK

Art drawing 'Piet de Gruyter' by De Spit Smuis - Nicole Spit exhibited at CEK
Art drawing entitled ‘café Piet de Gruyter’ exhibited during the CEK

Art drawings by De Spit Smuis – Nicole Spit at the Castricumse Etalage Kunst (CEK) in Castricum.

With ‘De Spit’ Smuis’, focussed more on 2d work, I will exhibit in several shop windows in Castricum. (see also: de_spit_smuis on instagram)
With drawings and illustrations and collage paintings.
You can find artwork from me at:

  • On Stock, Burgemeester Mooijstraat 33
  • De Gele Vinck, Burgemeester Mooijstraat 33-a
  • Hairdresser Patrick Boots, Burgemeester Mooijstraat 18

There are also about 55 other shop windows with many other Castricum artists. Come and have a look! All summer long! The CEK is organized by Mieke Rozing, on her site you can find more information and a map with all the CEK locations.

CEK exhibition in Castricum 3 Juli – 16 August 2020

CEK with art drawing by De Spit Smuis - Nicole Spit. This drawing is entitled 'is er iets?' (is something wrong?) made during Inktober 2019
Art drawing 433 grand cafe exhibited at the CEK. Tekenkunst door kunstenaar Nicole Spit - De Spit Smuis
Art drawing ‘ 433 Grand café’ – De Spit’Smuis

Studio Dáárheen at Future Based ‘Technological Ecology’ Meet up

Nicole Spit talking about her 'NeoBio' project in the talk about technological ecology at Perdu Amsterdam
Nicole talking about her ‘NeoBio’ project in the talk about technological ecology at Perdu Amsterdam. (photocredit :Belarofe)

Technological Ecology is the study of technology’s interactions with other technologies, with organisms and with the environment. Do we need a reinterpretation of ‘ecology’? During this meetup we will engage in conversation with four experts from various disciplines, who will shed their light on the topic of Technological Ecology; Creating creatures and the Nature of Technology. What should we expect of the next nature that awaits us? #futurebased #technologicalecology #nicolespit #perdu