I.B.M. Project

During the Wereld van de Witte de With festival in 2006, artists Ties Ten Bosch and Gert-Jan van den Akerboom presented the I.B.M. Project. I.B.M. stands for Interactive Broadcasting Module — an installation that gave visitors full control over what was being communicated. The work centered on activating the audience, allowing them to create and broadcast their own messages through the installation.

The artists did not position themselves as dominant creators but rather as “conceptual fathers” who simply provided the platform. The audience was encouraged to engage with the technology in a creative and personal way, turning the project into a playful yet critical reflection on media usage, participation, and the role of the viewer.

The I.B.M. Project was presented during the festival as part of “September in Rotterdam”, commissioned by Rotterdam Festivals. Mothership acted as curator and coordinated the project, with support from CBK Rotterdam and Philips.