Kick Off, Open University of Diversity, Hasselt (BE)

REPORT

Kick Off
Arena de Evolución – L.O.C.K.
7 December 2013, Open University of Diversity, Hasselt (BE)

A superb day it was, Saturday the 7th of November. The Open University of Diversity hosted a symposium, a mini-conference and a spectacular party for more than 600 guests. The symposium was held in honor of the Golden Nica Award for Koen Vanmechelen and the kick off of his ambitious Arena de Evolución project.

The morning started with a symposium about the future of assisted reproduction, honoring 25 years of IVF in the province of Limburg. Koen gave an inspiring speech about the joint quest of science and art, a quest for truth and meaning as embodied by the Walking Egg. This is a worldwide known project in which Koen and dr. Willem Ombelet join forces to launch affordable IVF treatment in developing countries.

In the afternoon, Koen launched the kick-off of his new project for Cuba, called 'Arena de Evolución'. “Havana will host the first of many arena’s in which art and science will be brought together,” Koen announced. Nine eminent speakers set up the contours of the platform to launch the arena: prof. dr. em. Jean-Jacques Cassiman (Human Genetics, University of Leuven), prof. Bruno Goddeeris (Biology, University of Leuven), prof. Dr. Rik Pinxten (Anthropology, UGent), prof. Dr. Bart Raymaekers (Ethics, University of Leuven), Ignace Schops (Environment), prof. dr. Willem Ombelet (Fertility, ZOL Gent), prof. dr. Piet Stinissen (Immunity, Hasselt University), Loreta García (Flora y Fauna de Cuba) and Jorge Fernandez (director Havana Biennal). The excellent moderating of Anna Luyten has drawn some remarkable quotes from these speakers:

Jean-Jacques Cassiman: “Humans were not waiting for diversity, but it was already there. Every day we learn more about it.”
Bruno Goddeeris: “What are we doing? We are inbreeding different ornamental varieties. Koen is doing the opposite.”
Rik Pinxten: “Koen Vanmechelen is breeding out by manipulating self-organisation.”
Ignace Schops: “Earth is the best place we have. Only change is everlasting.”
Willem Ombelet: “The Walking Egg is a global and total project that tries to make fertility care available for the world."
Piet Stinissen: “Diversity makes us humans unique.”
Bart Raymaekers: “We are creating things that are inside ourselves, and the difference between inside and outside is changing. That is disturbing.”
Loreta Garcia: “The Cuban people are the father of the Cubalaya, and Koen Vanmechelen is the stepfather.”
Jorge Fernandez: “It is time we accept that we are hybrids ourselves.”

The celebration party started after energetic speeches by Goele Schoofs (Process Manager OpUnDi) and art consultant Jill Silverman van Coenegrachts. Goele drew a picture of a very successful 2013 and highlighted some of the new projects that await the Open University of Diversity from net year on. High profile exhibitions will take place in Suriname and Cuba, where the Cubalaya Center of Koen will be deployed to reintroduce this beautiful chicken species on the island. Crucial in all this is the migration of the Open University of Diversity to the multicultural city of Genk where the Cosmopolitan Culture Park will be established as an intellectual zoo.

More than 600 people joined the Golden Nica Celebration Party in the evening. They enjoyed refined eats, treats and drinks and exquisite music by James Putnam & band and DJ and electronic music wizard James Lavelle.