The winners of the Open Call 2025

What happens when a city constantly adapts, rivers and cars argue for their right to exist, and a sun only shines through human effort? These are the questions explored by the three projects selected as winners of the Open Call 2025: Stanza, Playfool, and Post Neon.

The jury chose these three winners for their innovative ideas, artistic strength, and their ability to make us reflect on our relationship with the world. The decision was far from easy. Jury member Noor van Eekelen remarked: “We received an incredible number of outstanding submissions. We were deeply impressed by the originality, care, and dedication shown in each one. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who took the time to share their remarkable work with us.”

The winning projects will be featured as part of Spaceship Earth, a large-scale exhibition that explores how evolution might continue to unfold on our planet.

Stanza
The British artist Stanza works with data and technology and is known for his interactive installations that reveal themes of surveillance and digital cities. In The Nemesis Machine, he translates this fascination into a vibrant miniature city in constant motion. The installation, composed of light and electronic components, operates with real-time data: meaning no two versions are ever the same. The work is the result of more than fifteen years of development and continues to evolve. Through it, Stanza highlights how big data and artificial intelligence shape our urban environments, forming ever-changing networks in which we all play a role.

Playfool
The art and design duo Playfool, founded by Daniel Coppen (UK) and Saki Maruyama (Japan), uses play as a medium to explore the shifting tensions between human action and technology. Their project Court of Life continues this exploration through a speculative courtroom game. Visitors take on the role of defense attorney, arguing for the legal status of life for a non-human client, such as a river or a car. Opposite them stands an AI prosecutor, challenging participants to reconsider what “life” truly means. Each trial unfolds differently, and together they form an ever-growing Constitution of Life, inviting us to rethink our relationship with other beings.

Post Neon
The Dutch creative studio Post Neon, founded by Niels Moolenaar, Jeremy Renoult, and James Brady, approaches their work through experimentation and curiosity, constantly questioning the world around them. Their installation The Weight of Light invites visitors to generate electricity themselves. By lifting and moving blocks, energy is stored in a dynamo, powering a large artificial sun made of recycled materials. The harder visitors work, the brighter the sun glows. A luminous reward for collective effort. The installation reminds us that energy requires effort and should not be taken for granted; it is something precious, earned through collaboration and care.