The Bonnefanten Pop-up museum is, of course, once again a feature at this year’s Pinkpop festival. This time, there’s a sensational presentation of Anouk Kruithof’s Universal Tongue.

From 20 to 22 June, the video installation will take festival-goers on a journey of movement and rhythm from all over the world. Universal Tongue lets visitors reflect on dance styles and the culture and social media associated with them.

Practical information about the Pop-up museum:

• Open every day from 12.00 to 21.00
• The Pop-up museum is located close to the North Stage
• Free entry to the Pop-up museum
• Free dance workshops with the youth department YOUNG OFFICE
• Every 50^th visitor to the Pop-up museum will receive a free unique Bonnefanten T-shirt inspired by Anouk Kruithof’s Universal Tongue
• On production of their Pinkpop ticket or armband, festival-goers can enjoy one free visit to the Bonnefanten in Maastricht, until Sunday 31 August 2025.

Universal Tongue

In Universal Tongue, visual artist Anouk Kruithof (1981, Dordrecht) explores dance as a powerful form of self-expression and individuality. The single-screen video installation highlights the important role of dance in our media culture. From twerking and vogue to Fortnite dances and flash mobs – Anouk Kruithof uses thousands of dance videos from all over the world, and shows us how dance lives, develops and spreads online.

Dance in the digital jungle

Universal Tongue takes you on an exhilarating, four-hour journey through the internet, where thousands of different dance styles succeed one another at top speed. The visual spectacle is based on over 8,800 videos of traditional and contemporary dances, collected on social media by a team of 52 researchers from almost 200 countries. They have been spectacularly edited to a soundtrack created especially for the work by artist and designer Karoliina Pärnänen. The loop of moving images reflects the connection and cultural exchange constantly taking place via the world wide web.

Everyone’s a dancer

Universal Tongue doesn’t follow strictly defined categories like country, continent or culture. Instead, it shows how dance reaches beyond borders and cultures, and how all over the world we’re connected by the rhythm of our movements. It shows who we are and where we come from, while also making way for new identities and a more inclusive world. “Everyone’s a dancer”, says Kruithof in Universal Tongue.

About Anouk Kruithof

Anouk Kruithof works with photography, video, collage, sculpture and social interventions. Her work often touches on major social issues. She also takes inspiration from her travel experiences and long stays in Berlin and New York. Kruithof has exhibited in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and MoMA San Francisco, among others. Universal Tongue has been shown at Museum Tinguely Basel and VIERNULVIER in Ghent.

Program YOUNG OFFICE

Especially for Pinkpop, Bonnefanten's youth department has put together a program.

• Dance workshops
  Inspired by Universal Tongue by Anouk Kruithof, YO invites the audience to get moving themselves. They provide a “dancing for dummies” workshop. In addition, they are supporting Patrizio Bucci, dance teacher and coordinator at SALLY, in three daily workshops in which festival-goers can prepare for their favorite artist: from learning the Dutch dance classic 'hakken' to Justin Timberlake choreos and improvisation. The workshops are playful, approachable and offer something for everyone.

• Sticky tattoos
  Sticky tattoos are also making a comeback! YO'ers have created their own designs inspired by art from the Bonnefanten. Choose your favourite artwork as a temporary tattoo and become a walking work of art yourself!