As Oscar Wilde said, ‘People know the price of everything and the value of nothing’. How do you determine what something is worth? The first edition of Current Values delves into this basic question. If value is ultimately collectively determined, who does one address if they think value should have a different interpretation? What reference points and measures do we use to determine something’s value?
Economist and philosopher Liesbeth Noordegraaf-Eelens (EUR) talks about value, uncertainty and collective responsibility. Many culprits of the financial crisis have been identified but nobody really feels accountable. Artist Jeanne van Heeswijk talks about the Afrikaanderwijk Value Store in Rotterdam South. How does she see her role as a driver of an alternative economy? In the regular feature ’The World According to…’ Raoul de Jong provides his customary editorial, and artist Jay Tan will conclude the evening with a performance that will express her view on economy.
Spoken language: English and Dutch
Liesbeth Noordegraaf-Eelens (1973) is an economist and philosopher. She graduated in 2010 with her thesis ‘Contested Communication’, on central bank presidents and their communicative acts. Noordegraaf has taught at the Erasmus School of Economic since 1996 and in 2003 she became program manager of the Erasmus School of Economics Bachelor Honours Class. Her research focuses on a combination of philosophy and economics by connecting major themes such as uncertainty, trust, risk, value and communication, to concrete financial and economic problems. Furthermore, she is the author of ‘The Adulterous Banker – From Homo Economicus to Übermensch’ (2004) and ‘On to the Next Crisis! On The Tempting Power of the Financial Markets’ (2009).
Jeanne van Heeswijk (1965) lives in Rotterdam and has an international artistic practice working on projects with a strong social commitment. Van Heeswijk is a mediator in projects mostly dealing with public space to which local artists, entrepreneurs, governments and other stakeholders are invited to participate. An example of which is ‘Free House’, running since 2008. Together with residents and businesses, opportunities are sought for a network around an alternative economy, such as ‘The Market of Tomorrow’ at the Afrikaander Market in Rotterdam South.
Raoul de Jong (1984) is a Rotterdam writer and dancer. He debuted in 2005 with the autobiographical novel ’Het leven is Verschrikkulluk’ (Life is ‘Orrible). In 2004 he travelled through West Africa for Plan Nederland resulting in the travelogue ‘Stinknegers’ (Stinking Negros). In 2012 he made a sponsored walked from Rotterdam via his friend in Paris to his mother in Marseille and wrote about the experience for a column in the NRC.
Jay Tan (1982 UK) graduated from the Piet Zwart Institute in 2010. In her work she examines how processes are converted into form. She also does research on the social context of productionprocessen, by reflecting on immaterial labour, craftwork and machines. Tan was selected for the Bosch Young Talent Show and is winner of the C.o.C.A Commission 2012. She exhibited in London, Munich, Antwerp and Amsterdam. Jay Tan lives and works in Rotterdam and London.