This is an automatic English translation of the Dutch original.
How do you design an unforgettable Solarpunk experience? We brought together a unique group of experts to answer that question.
On 31 May a unique group of experts and makers came together for the Solarpunk: Project Sunrise gathering, an event dedicated to exploring and developing ideas for a more sustainable future in which people, technology and nature are in harmony.
The gathering brought together philosophers, artists, designers, scientists and technologists from different countries to share their visions of a solarpunk world.
The event began with participants sharing personal stories about their connection with nature. These ranged from Marjan Slob’s practice of solar chores (using energy-intensive appliances only when solar panels are generating electricity) to Tanya Torn Lau’s bond with a home-grown pak choi plant, and Gaspard Bos’ connection with nature while working on an AI project to protect bears.
Three new ideas for the future
The core of the gathering focused on brainstorming future solarpunk activities. Three main ideas emerged:
- A Solarpunk grow-your-own-clothing ceremony: A kit for growing wearable garments made from mycelium, to be worn at a solarpunk dance event. This idea combines spirituality, resilience and transformation.
- Decentralised Community Care: A network for broadcasting invitations to real-time solarpunk events using non-standard interfaces, with an emphasis on radical community care and solidarity.
- Stooping and Mothing: An initiative to create new words and meanings for solarpunk practices, highlighting the power of language in shaping our future.
The gathering also identified important research questions for the solarpunk movement, including the need for new language to share solarpunk stories and exploring what solarpunk ceremonies might look like.
What’s next
Afterwards, participants collaborated online to develop and showcase new ways to take solarpunk ideas further, including at Dutch Design Week and the WHY2025 hacker event. Project leader Pieter van Boheemen is exploring the possibility of setting up a solarpunk village during the WHY2025 event in August 2025.
The event showed the growing interest in solarpunk philosophies and the potential of collaborative, creative approaches to building a more sustainable and just world.
This project is made possible in part with support from Stimuleringsfonds voor de Creatieve Industrie
