Out of Office (Still Here)

• Date: 04 June - 16 August
• Location: Nest Den Haag

For many people, the summer holidays mean a period of rest, freedom, and relaxation. There is even no schoolwork, so plans are made to leave for the sun, sea, and beach, or perhaps the mountains. But for others, the summer period means something else: continuing to work, staying at home, being bored, perhaps visiting family, or caring for others. The meaning of the summer holidays therefore says something not only about free time and the way its spent, but also about access to it. What does it mean to stay at home in the summer? How is free time spent by ‘stay-at-homers’ during a period when many people are also leaving the country, schools are closed, and tourists are streaming into the city?

In the exhibition Out of Office (Still Here), Nest take a closer look at the concept of ‘free time’ by opening our doors to all stay-at-homes in the city precisely during the long summer holidays. How do people spend their time in the summer? What role does the immediate environment play in this? The neighborhood, the park, public space – and in The Hague, of course, the beach – become visible as places of encounter, play, and togetherness, but also as spaces where social structures and inequality persist. At the same time, Out of Office (Still Here) challenges the image of vacation as an ideal. The promise of escape and relaxation is contrasted with personal and political realities such as unequal access to sports and play, or the impact of tourism on climate change. With an extensive public program for all ages, Nest transforms into a summery spot where there is room for encounter, play, and critical reflection.

The magazine Nesting Habits #2 accompanies the exhibition, featuring, among other things, a text by writer Rasit Elibol and summery assignments and puzzles related to the artworks.

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