Open University of Diversity

19/07/2019

The Open University of Diversity finds its home at LABIOMISTA

OpUnDi, the Open University of Diversity, is Koen Vanmechelen’s constantly mutating and migrating hotbed of ideas. Founded in 2011, it’s an intellectual crossroads, a bank of ideas and a meeting place for all who work in what is Vanmechelen’s central focus: biocultural diversity. OpUnDi is bot...

20/12/2016

We're moving. After six years in the old Gelatine factory in Hasselt, the Open University of Diversity is moving to Stad Genk where it will be one part of La Biomista - Studio Koen Vanmechelen; a site of 24ha, dedicated to biological and cultural diversity.

Thank you for making our time in Hasselt so memorable and we will see you after our big move....

20/06/2016

Yesterday flemish ministre of culture Sven Gatz visited opundi - interesting conversations on art and science.

09/06/2016

OpUnDi welcomes and the rector of the Universiteit Hasselt and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Talking about communities, diversity and universities or as Caroline Pauwels,states; Koen Vanmechelen is a social explorer and this is also how a University should be. Stimulating others in thinking out of the box, meeting on borders.

22/04/2016

OpUnDi is welcoming these lovely children for a studiovisit

19/04/2016

Ashoka is visiting OpUnDi for their Changemaker day - together with Ignace Schops

"The ideal of empowering others to be changemakers inspires everything Ashoka does. We are working with schools to rethink learning so that every student has the skills to be an active citizen and we are increasingly working with a wide range of corporate organisations that recognise they have a role and responsibility in
driving positive social change."

10/03/2016

Happy with this thank you letter from SAB: Sint-Augustinusinstituut Bree (officiële pagina) to thank us for the studio visit!

29/02/2016

Report by Sint-Augustinus Bree on their visit to the Open University of Diversity.

Als men spreekt over Koen Vanmechelen, denkt men onmiddellijk aan kippen. Terecht, het zou echter de kunstenaar onrecht aandoen je hiertoe te beperken. In zijn kunstuniversum verwerkt hij DNA-structuren, WOI, armoede in de wereld, renovaties van steden, ….Een bezoek aan zijn atelier te Hasselt (19/0…

15/02/2016

OpUnDi supports

01/02/2016

4 years ago, on the 29th of January, 2012, we opened the Open University of Diversity at the former Gelatine Factory in Hasselt and presented it to the world during our Private view.

Since then, this place has developed into an intellectual breedingplace. It helped shape a community of innovative minds and thinkers concerned about biocultural diversity. A think tank and place for cross-pollination. Debates, symposia, conferences and expert meetings were organised, informed by the works of art that are on permanent display in the old factory. It unified Koen Vanmechelen's artistic projects and served as a place where art and science could intersect.

Now, OpUnDi is bursting at the seams - and with La Biomista in Genk, Belgium we found new, fertile ground for the Open University of Diversity to develop further.

15/10/2015

and also these ladies enjoyed learning more about Koen Vanmechelen, the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project, Cosmogolem, , The Walking Egg, CWRM and of course, our new studio - photo by Magali Merzougui Photography

13/10/2015

This morning a class of 5 year old visited our studio. They were mesmerised by everything they saw and it was so much fun and informative introducing them to the world of Koen Vanmechelen. Photo's by Magali Merzougui Photography