Out of Office (Still Here) at NEST, The Hague

For many, the summer holidays signify a time of rest, freedom and relaxation. Work and school are set aside, and plans are made to depart: towards sun, sea and sand, or perhaps the mountains. Yet for others, the summer period takes on a different meaning: continuing to work, staying at home, passing the time in idleness, perhaps visiting family or caring for others. The way one spends the summer holidays therefore reflects not only the notion of leisure and how it is filled, but also one’s access to it. What, then, does it mean to remain at home during the summer? How is leisure shaped by those who ‘stay behind’ in a period when many leave the country, schools are closed, and tourists flood into the city?

In the exhibition Out of Office (Still Here), Nest examines the notion of ‘leisure’ precisely by opening our doors during the long summer holidays to all those remaining in the city. How do we spend our summers? And what part is played by our immediate surroundings? The neighbourhood, the park, public space – and, in The Hague, inevitably the beach – come into view as sites of encounter, play and togetherness, but also as spaces where social structures and inequalities continue to shape experiences.

At the same time, Out of Office (Still Here) unsettles the notion of the holiday as an ideal. The promise of escape and ease is set against perso- nal and political realities: unequal access to sport and play, or the impact of tourism on climate change. Through an expansive public programme for all ages, Nest is transformed into a summery setting where there is room to meet, play and for critical reflection.

Published alongside the exhibition is Nesting Habits #2, a magazine featuring, among other contributions, a text by writer Rasit Elibol, as well as a series of summer-inspired prompts and puzzles connected to the artworks.