Amsterdam Dance Event — Arts & Culture | White Space + SMILE

Matthias Oostrik | Popup ICK-Next | DJ Michiel Bouwens A monochromatic light instrument played through collective presence. White Space is an immersive installation that transforms negative space into a place where strangers connect. At its heart, a monolith of intense blue and white light spins on its axis, casting compositions of monochromatic light and generative music that shift and dance among the audience. Responding to pose and position, the sculpture becomes an instrument, played by everyone present at once. Only by coordinating their positions and synchronising their poses can visitors reach the climax of the installation: illuminating the emptiness that separates them and transforming the negative space into White Space. White Space is an interactive light installation by artist Matthias Oostrik, who leads its concept, software, and production. Developed under the Harmonic Dissonance Collective, it premieres during Amsterdam Dance Event – Arts & Culture 2026, hosted by ICK Dans Amsterdam. Its sonic language, developed with composer Marcel Wierckx, draws from electronic dance music and generative composition, placing the work at the intersection of light art, club culture, and participatory performance. The Harmonic Dissonance Collective, which Oostrik co-founded with Suzanne Dikker, is known for award-winning work on human connectedness, with collaborations spanning artists from Marina Abramović to Bad Bunny and institutions including the Max Planck Society, VU Amsterdam, New York University, and ICK Dans Amsterdam. The program also features SMILE, Oostrik's AI installation that transforms your portrait into an eerily perfect version of yourself, a popup by ICK-Next (ICK's junior company) and DJ Michiel Bouwens. — Practical information Which days and times: Tryout: Thursday, 22 October, from 8pm until 9pm — €5.00 per person Premiere: Friday, 23 October, from 8pm until 9pm — €5.00 per person Open: Saturday, 24 October, you are welcome between 4pm until 10pm — Free entrance Open: Sunday, 25 October, you are welcome between 12pm until 6pm — Free entrance Location address: ICK Dans Amsterdam / Space for Dance Art Rijnlandlaan 3, 1062 MX Amsterdam Do you have any questions? Please contact at [email protected]. Please include "White Space" in the subject line.