Eventstructure Research Group 67-82: Pioneering Interactive Art & Public Installations Exhibition

This exhibition is the first retrospective dedicated to the Eventstructure Research Group (ERG), showcasing their work from the 1960s to the 1980s. The group focused on creating temporary, interactive art installations in public spaces using air and technology, emphasizing play, participation, and societal change.

The exhibition 'Lucht & Spel: Eventstructure Research Group 1967-1982' offers a comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking work of the Eventstructure Research Group (ERG). Founded in 1967 by Theo Botschuijver, Sean Wellesley-Miller, and Jeffrey Shaw, ERG was active through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, creating temporary art in public spaces. Their practice centered on 'air and technology' to foster play and interaction, pushing boundaries with large inflatable installations that often included audiovisual elements to elicit direct physical responses from viewers. The visitor was integral, becoming a participant and author of the work, experiencing art as an 'event'. Key ideas behind their interventions included breaking daily routines, encouraging exploration, and reintroducing play into society. Named after John Latham's concept of 'event structures,' ERG's approach was deliberately anti-establishment, opposing the prevailing art world's focus on static, decorative objects. They published their theories in 'Concepts for an Operation Art' (1969), asserting art's original function for revolution, self-action, and societal change. By placing their works outside museum walls, ERG deliberately evaded traditional art institutions. Authorship was intentionally collective, extending to the users of their interactive structures. The exhibition itself features original archival materials including drawings, sketches, material studies, documentation of their air artworks, video, and photographs, offering deep insight into their conceptual and practical explorations.