The Knight's Move: Iain Sinclair

The complete lecture by Iain Sinclair can be viewed on DVD in the library of Stroom Den Haag: more info click here.

Tuesday January 25, 2011, 8 pm
Location: auditorium KABK (Royal Academy of Art), Prinsessegracht 4, The Hague
Language: English
RSVP: FULLY BOOKED

Iain Sinclair is a British author, filmmaker, poet, prophet, visionary and keeper of lost cultures. His work is rooted in London and is related to psychogeography, also known as the science of wandering and exploring. Sinclair unravels the (urban) landscape by means of fascinating walks and discusses the materialistic, Thatcherite society we live in and the short-sighted, nihilistic visions of urban speculators.

Psychogeography is the study of the effects of the geographical environment on the emotions and behavior of individuals. It was first introduced by the Situationists of the 1950s, who advocated a city and society freed from the straight jacket of urban planning, functionalism and bureaucracy. A city should be adventurous, inspiring, exciting and creative. Psychogeography responds to this idea by mapping existing cities, intersections or networks in accordance with the wishes and desires of the user.

Iain Sinclair (1943, Cardiff, Wales) published his early work through his own publishing firm Albion Village Press. His urban walks, described in numerous essays, novels and films, describe the rift between our common knowledge of London and the real topography of the city. He takes us on a journey along the river Thames, walks the entire 188 km of the M25, also known as the London Orbital, a journey past rebellious graffiti slogans and creepy Jack the Ripper landmarks. Books by Sinclair include 'London: City of Disappearances' (2006), 'Liquid City' (1999, with Marc Atkins) and 'London Orbital' (2002).
www.iainsinclair.org.uk

‘The Knight's Move' is a series of lectures by eminent international speakers who stand out by their unusual, enlightening and inspirational visions concerning the city, urbanity, the public domain, and community. Just as the knight moves in an atypical and unusual way across the chessboard, Stroom Den Haag likewise wants to cut across all disciplines and thus stimulate rethinking the city.

The Knight's Move is made possible by the Netherlands Architecture Fund.

Archive 'The Knight's Move' 2009-present