"Exercise in Failure" presents: "It's Not a Pub Anymore"

On September 26, the art project “Exercise in Failure” will kick off with its first Act, “It’s not a pub anymore,” in the chapel of the Zusterhuis in Amersfoort. The project was initiated by artists Paul Heusinkveld, Bobbi Cleij, Dante van Elburg, and Pargol Tavakoli Shirazi, and explores the value of failure, imperfection, and the artistic process.
Through exhibitions, workshops, and film screenings, the project challenges society’s relentless focus on perfection and successful end results, and asks why we hide uncertainty and mistakes.

The project unfolds in three consecutive Acts at various locations in Amersfoort. “Exercise in Failure” extends beyond the exhibition space, featuring workshops, activities, and film nights for all ages.

Act I: It’s Not a Pub Anymore
The first exhibition takes place in the chapel of the Zusterhuis, a church that is itself in a constant state of transition. Having lost its original function, it is no longer quite a church or a clearly defined space.

The city is constantly changing, and with it, the meanings and contexts of the spaces and places that make up the city. By depicting this shift, the original functions and literal meanings are transcended, contextualized, and given a new twist. New symbols and metaphors emerge, creating a connection between the everyday and the unexpected. Anything is possible—it’s not a pub anymore.