Experience with Stroomversneller: Ben Gerber & Bram Kuypers - High Speed, Slow Motion

All the Power that Remains: An artistic exploration supported by Stroomversneller

Since 2020, Ben Greber and Bram Kuypers have been working on *All the Power that Remains*, an intriguing artistic exploration of the connection between faith in technological progress and religion. Central to their work is the history of futuristic rail concepts and technological innovations in rail transport. The project consists of several chapters, each highlighting an experimental train system whose high expectations have not (yet) been fulfilled.

The testing facilities where these trains were developed serve as the starting point for their work. Through photographic and video documentation, a collection of artifacts, and performative interventions, Greber and Kuypers position themselves as amazed witnesses, balancing between skepticism and reverence.

High Speed, Slow Motion: Reflections on a Lost Utopia

A key part of the project is the exhibition *High Speed, Slow Motion*, which centers on the decommissioned Transrapid test track in Lathen, Germany. This maglev train, which was tested in the 1980s at speeds of up to 500 km/h, was intended to quickly connect major cities. However, the project was halted in 2011, and the track slowly fell into disrepair, becoming a ruin of an unfulfilled technological dream.

The exhibition features video works, sculptures, and installations that approach the test track not only as an object of technical research, but above all as a ritual medium. Greber and Kuypers offer a moment of reflection on society’s faith in technology and progress, in which the railroad track becomes a symbol of hope, disappointment, and contemplation.

The Role of the Stroomversneller

Stroomversneller Greber and Kuypers the freedom to further develop their artistic experiments without strict limitations. This grant program supports new initiatives by giving them a “boost,” with the goal of fostering creative freedom and growth. Thanks to this support, they were able to conduct in-depth research and bring their ideas to life through various media and interventions.

Artistic Significance and Development

For Ben Greber and Bram Kuypers, this project meant more than just creating works of art. It allowed them to critically reflect on the belief in technological progress and the rituals surrounding it. With a keen eye for history and culture, they reflect on how societal hope and science intersect.

Through their experiments with various media and performative interventions, they grew as artists and expanded their practice. The support from the Stroomversneller them the much-needed space and freedom to explore and depict these complex themes in their work.

About Stroomversneller

Stroomversneller a grant program that supports new initiatives in their artistic development by giving them room to experiment. The goal is to help these initiatives gain momentum in an accessible way, without too many restrictions or obligations.

Click here for more information about Stroomversneller.