Bonnefanten Pop-up museum at Pinkpop

This year, dance is the order of the day at our spectacular Bonnefanten Pop-up museum at Pinkpop!

Bonnefanten Pop-up museum: Anouk Kruithof with Universal Tongue at Pinkpop

• Date: 20 to 22 June, open from 12.00 to 21.00
• Location of Pop-up museum: close to the North Stage
• Free entry to the Pop-up museum for festival-goers

For three days, festival-goers will be transported in movement and rhythm from all over the world, through the sensational video presentation Universal Tongue, by Anouk Kruithof. From twerking and vogue to Fortnite dances and flash mobs – visual artist Anouk Kruithof (1981, Dordrecht) uses thousands of international dance videos, exploring dance as a powerful form of self-expression and individuality. In Universal Tongue, she also shows us how dance in all its diversity lives online, develops and spreads in our media culture.

The pavilion is alternately one big dance floor and a chill space. Our youth department YOUNG OFFICE is organising special dance workshops. No need to be a pro – just join in for fun!

Dance in the digital jungle

The video 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. Universal Tongue reflects the connection and cultural exchange constantly taking place via the world wide web.

About Anouk Kruithof

Anouk Kruithof works with photography, video, collage, sculpture and social interventions. Her work – which is internationally successful – often touches on major social issues. She also takes inspiration from her travel experiences and long stays in different places, such as 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.

Dance workshops by YOUNG OFFICE

The Bonnefanten’s youth department has put together a programme of dance workshops especially for Pinkpop. YOUNG OFFICE invites visitors to try out some moves themselves. Besides organising a ‘dancing for dummies’ workshop, they will also be assisting Patrizio Bucci, dance teacher and coordinator with SALLY Dance Company, with three daily workshops where festival-goers can prepare for their favourite artist: from learning hakken to Justin Timberlake choreos and improvisation. The workshops are fun and low-threshold, and there’s something for everyone.

Bonnefanten’s treat

They’re now a favourite Pinkpop collectors’ item: the T-shirts designed by Bonnefanten especially for the Pop-up museum. Every 50^th visitor to the Pop-up museum gets a free, unique Bonnefanten T-shirt, inspired by Anouk Kruithof’s Universal Tongue.
Transfer tattoos are also making a comeback! YOUNG OFFICE has made various designs inspired by the art from the Bonnefanten. Choose your favourite artwork as a temporary tattoo and become a walking artwork yourself.

And not to be missed: 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.

Note for the press:

For more information, please contact Kris Németh through pressoffice@bonnefanten.nl or on +31 (0)6-27364802

Header: Anouk Kruithof, Universal Tongue (screenshot n), 2022, single-channel video, colour, sound. Courtesy the artist