Drawing the Line: on the Impossibility of Utopia

Abstract

When Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout ventured into developing a zero -carbon, no -waste city in 2005, there were no such examples in the world. His artistic vision, complete with a full set of drawings and models, predated any real attempts to build one.1 Van Lieshout, a controversial artist known for his independent state in Rotterdam harbour (AVL-Ville), has 'dissected systems' in his work, be they systems of society or of the human body.2 While dissecting systems, he has often turned to design and architecture, creating provocative work that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.3 His 2005 zero -carbon city project was no exception.4 Van Lieshout's city was a compact one, covering approximately fifty square kilometres. With a set of calculations, models, drawings, paintings, and even objects, the project was complete. A business plan that accompanied the design outlined a program to maintain the city's profitability, an annual profit of 7.5 billion Euro to be exact.5 The project's description referenced some of the important keywords for urban design today, including zero -carbon design, efficiency, and profitability, ultimately suggesting a responsible, ethical, and a desired future. This was not exactly the case, however. This was - as he labelled it - a 'Slave City'. As the name suggests, Van Lieshout's Slave City would be populated by worker slaves who would be divided into four categories:6 healthy and suitable for work (6 per cent of the population), healthy and unsuitable for work (16 per cent), unhealthy and unsuitable for work (29 per cent) and the majority, unhealthy, unsuitable for work, and tasteless (49 per cent).7 Based on these