Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to Rhizomebook. If you have any questions, we are here to help you. Below, you will find an extensive list of frequently asked questions. If your question is not listed or if you need additional information, don't hesitate to contact us at info[at]rhizomebook.com. We aim to respond promptly and appreciate your interest in Rhizomebook.
About Rhizomebook
What is Rhizomebook.com?
Rhizomebook, established by artist Jan van der Til, is a continuously evolving website that reflects and interprets his artistic practice. It takes the form of a digital book — an open, dynamic network of interconnected ideas, images, texts, and sources. [More here]
Why the term 'rhizome'?
The term originates from the philosophical work of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari and describes a non-hierarchical structure of connections without a central root or linear direction. Rhizomebook adopts this logic in its structure, content, and method.
Is Rhizomebook a personal project or a collaborative platform?
Both. While rooted in the individual practice of Jan van der Til, Rhizomebook operates as an open system. Many Books include external contributions, collections, or collaborative interventions, reflecting the co-constructive nature of knowledge.
About Jan van der Til
Who is Jan van der Til?
Jan van der Til is a Dutch artist with a multidisciplinary, research-driven practice. His work questions dominant ideas around authorship, originality, and context. He draws on rhizomatic thinking, ecological systems, and the adaptive intelligence of wild plants. [More here]
Does Rhizomebook conduct research?
Yes. Research — artistic, ecological, technological — is central to the practice. It manifests through text, visual work, collections, installations, and institutional collaborations.
Concepts of the Work
What does Jan van der Til consider a 'book'?
A Book is any manifestation of the rhizomatic artistic practice. It can be a publication, a website, a collection, or an intervention. A Book does not unfold linearly but exists as a constellation of relations, contexts, and media.
Why do the books have numbers?
Each Book is numbered using Roman numerals, not to establish order but to signify its position as a node within a broader constellation. The number does not imply hierarchy or chronology.
Why do many books lack a date?
Only material manifestations of a Book are dated, as their form and meaning are context-dependent. The original Book exists outside a fixed timeline.
Why are exhibitions or reviews also included among the books?
Because every interaction, presentation, or contextual shift can function as a new manifestation of a Book. These are not secondary but integral to the work's meaning.
Why is the original not for sale?
The original is considered a conceptual or digital structure — not an object. Selling it would contradict the principles of openness, non-possession, and generativity central to the practice.
Can I purchase a book by Jan van der Til?
Yes and no. Some Books are available as print-on-demand via Blurb, others exist only as digital or conceptual entities. If you're interested in a specific work, contact us for availability and conditions.
Why does the work not rely on copyright?
Copyright is waived if it leads to greed, hinders knowledge exchange, or prevents criticism. The work resists commodification when it interferes with its ethical or epistemological framework.
What role does context play in the work?
Context is constitutive. A work's meaning emerges through its setting — institutional, ecological, discursive. Every manifestation is a co-production with its environment.
Why do some works only exist as websites or digital files?
Format follows function. Some Books are best suited to fluid, processual forms. Digital space allows for multiplicity, openness, and decentralization — aligning with rhizomatic logic.
What is meant by 'hybrid' practice?
A Book may simultaneously function as an artwork, a collection, a garden design, or a research document. This hybridity reflects a refusal of disciplinary boundaries in favor of methodological openness.
Collections and Loans
Why does Rhizomebook manage collections?
Collections are not static archives but epistemological tools. They examine how design, technology, and cultural history intersect and evolve. Each collection is a Book in itself.
Are the Braun devices available for purchase?
Book XXIII is a collection of Braun devices (1950–1995). These are not for sale but may be loaned under specific conditions. Contact us for more information.
Are the Apple devices available for purchase?
Book XXVIII contains Apple devices (1999–2015). These are not for sale but can be loaned. Contact us for terms and availability.
Are the Sony devices available for purchase?
Book XXXIV includes Sony devices (1969–1996). These are not for sale but can be loaned under certain conditions.
Are books loaned out by Rhizomebook?
Yes. Works can be loaned to public institutions, exhibitions, or research platforms. Early, informal dialogue is encouraged to align expectations.
Do you sell Braun parts?
No. The Braun devices are part of a curated collection and are not disassembled or sold in parts.
Ecological and Consulting Work
Can I also seek gardening advice from Rhizomebook?
Yes. We offer ecological design consultancy with a focus on wild plants, self-regulation, and minimal intervention. The approach is systemic and based on fostering balanced ecosystems rather than controlling them.
How does ecological thinking shape the work?
Ecology is not a theme but a structure: the practice borrows its form, logic, and ethics from ecological systems — adaptable, interconnected, and self-organizing. This is embodied in projects like Heermoes en Zevenblad.
What is Heermoes en Zevenblad?
Heermoes en Zevenblad is a foundation initiated by Jan van der Til and Paul Kusters that promotes policy rooted in ecological principles. It focuses on urban biodiversity, climate adaptation, and the integration of nature into everyday life. The foundation operates at the intersection of ecological expertise, artistic intervention, and systemic thinking.
Can Rhizomebook be hired for consulting services?
Yes. Rhizomebook provides consulting in areas where artistic, ecological, and systemic thinking intersect. Contact us to discuss possibilities.
Funding and Infrastructure
Can I invest or donate money to Rhizomebook?
We are currently developing alternative funding models, including blockchain-based systems. Until then, donations can be discussed case-by-case. Contact us if you wish to support the project.
How does blockchain relate to Rhizomebook?
Blockchain offers a technological structure aligned with rhizomatic logic — decentralized, horizontal, generative. It enables sustainable funding and autonomous distribution, and supports works like Heermoes en Zevenblad by creating feedback systems within the practice.
Access and Updates
Is the booklist complete?
No. Rhizomebook is a living system. New Books are added, others evolve. The structure is not exhaustive but generative.
How can I stay informed about news updates?
Subscribe to our irregular newsletter. We respect your privacy and keep communication minimal and meaningful.
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