The making off;
THE TROUBADOUR CAR
THE STORY IN SHORT
What started as a 'visual metaphor' became a 'metaphorical visual'
-The TROUBADOUR CAR is the heart of all my creative practices. With this portable -cabin of curiosity like- 'storytelling artifact', I journey from place to place. From venues, villages, parks, festivals, forests, markets to the city streets. With the TROUBADOUR CAR I bring with me that witch I love most being; 'creative energy'.
As a streetmusician I learned that unconditional playfull creative energy and art can be medicine for a culture that lost its sense of comunity, conection and even trust in strangers. in the smallest moments of connection hope, joy, and even love can be sparked like a fire from heart to heart.
The troubadour car is made for exactly this. A multidisciplinary storytelling artefact that brings creativity, entertainment and art to any location making for the smallest moments of authentic connection.
For hiring or collaboration, please send a mail to ianmerkoulov@gmail.com or call +31 681907108
Time line
2023
prototype concept
Minor exhibition BA movie animation; context and situatedness at the WDKA -December 2023-
2024
With a bit of luck, coincidence, recycled material, and a small Dream Team, the prototype became reality.
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2025
with the help of over 60 friends and family support, the fantasy became reality through Go fund me!
With it I could invest in the necessary professional tools to make the TROUBADOUR CAR in to a real storytelling artifact.
photos of carton prototypes.
For more literature on the Troubadour car as a visual metaphor to 'realize our DREAM' you are welcome to read my essay; YOUR TROUBADOUR CAR.
creative workshop
February.
gluren bij de buren livingroom consert
march
Music at Sarphatie park
march
Troubadouring at Amsterdam Noorderpark
april
pull a string! win a price!
vondelpark amsterdam
april
storytelling, jamsessions, and performance at DOK Bakkum spring festifal
may
Creatief kletspraatje
(creative chit- chat) in collaboration with Fonds Voor Zuid & Mensen maken Amsterdam.
A short video preparing my TROUBADOUR CAR in September 2024. Singing about traveling. Hoping to find 'torch carriers' sparking fire in the hearts of strangers. Collaboratively melting our inner LIQUID GOLD to flow in to the world.' I've seen through my own heart and eyes how the world is filled with luck and coincidence. Its the guiding language of the universe guiding to create a ' with shared complimentary dreams'. Yet, the luck and coincidence we encounter in life is not arbitrary! It came to being because of someone else their action and presents. Its the ripple effect of a (sometimes) invisible and mysterious action of a stranger. As a street musician I became very aware of the fact that we are strangers to most people in the city we encounter on a daily basis. Therefor we have the opportunity to be coincidental and create lucky moments of shared joy anywhere we go! We have the chance (and responsibility I believe) to live and act in this 'love language of the universe' by being lucky and coincidental with our embodied participatory presents. In my life I have found and gathered tools, that help me to create joy, love and connection within myself. When I connect to my self, I am more able to connect to others. In creative interaction we have the opportunity to spread sparks of my inner fire and love for life. The TROUBADOUR CAR helps me to travel locally amplifying my ability to be present brining the things I love to the streets and beyond. Navigating to places outside of my personal contextual bubble and increase the chance to create luck and coincidence with my presents as a human that happens to be most happy embodying the character of the artist. Your presents and active participation in the creation of luck and coincidence is worth gold in this hyper individualizing city society. What I like to share as last with you is that I build the TROUBADOUR CAR because it makes me happy and helps me share my inner LIQUID GOLD. All of us can share our inner LIQUID GOLD bringing it anywhere we go. Just through small (or big) gestures of kindness; A nod, smile, compliment or helping hand. Your smile is worth gold in this world. It might mean more than we can imagen. You just might end up representing luck and coincidence lighting the fire in a dimming heart, altering the course of a 'strangers day' if not even life... Thank you for all the luck, coincidence and the sunshine in the world all the love all the essence Ian Merkoulov