May I dwell?: Update on the city illustration project Sterker Door Strijd

This Update explores Martin Heidegger’s concept of dwelling to elucidate the significance of my illustrated work Sterker Door Strijd (Stronger through effort) within the contemporary urban landscape. By situating Heidegger’s notion of dwelling as a meaningful engagement with one’s environment rather than merely residing in physical structures, Sterker investigates the complexities of urban living by highlighting the tension between Rotterdam’s architectural advancements and the housing insecurity faced by its residents. This work was part of the collective exhibition Getekend: Rotterdam! Mag ik bestaan? (Drawn Rotterdam! May I exist?) at Kunsthal Rotterdam which serves as a platform for artistic interpretations of what dwelling means in the city. Connecting the notion of protest for housing rights to the act of dwelling, this Update underscores Sterker as a form of drawn activism that reveals urban development’s inadequacies and emphasises the need for spatial justice and genuine inclusive approaches to urban planning and policy.