On Nov 30, 2023 Tankstation celebrated (a wee bit belated) 10 years of its existence in the previously Citroën garage at Deurningerstraat 28. The evening was filled with joyous celebrations. We existed with old and new strangers. Congratulations were in order. It was the place to be that night!
The program was packed. The celebrations started off with the opening of the group exposition. Around 20 artists and volunteers showed their creative works. The indomitable Deepika made finger food for the expo.
Dinner was an elaborate, and heavy, 4-course menu. Each part of the menu was created by 4 different chefs to showcase their culture. I freestyled. I made an Indian flavoured, mushroom-tofu bitterballen for the starter course and a mixed vegetable sambar (lentil stew) for the main.
After everyone was fed, Martin van Laar and Joey van Gelden stepped on stage and engaged the audience with their incredible individual performances. In between, a call for donations was announced to help fund the central heating upkeep of Tankstation’s dilapitating residence. A non-profit can rarely take its winter socks off when it is trying to be anti-establishment in its operations. Some of the art works on display at the expo were graciously donated by the artists to be given as gifts to the winners of the donor’s raffle.
The program was closed off with a moment shared with the talented The Kettle. Thank you Deev for existing!
After a long day and a short night, I was walking back to Tankstation to gather my bags before heading home. I found Kim at our doorstep. She is a regular at Tankstation. She is also homeless. She was freezing on the bench outside. I offered her coffee and the little insulation that our walls could provide. We found Deev inside recovering from the merriment of the previous night. We shared a couple of coffees and a cigarette with Kim over some very deep conversations about our cold world. Thankfully though, after a bowl of reheated beans, she was warm again. What more can we do?
Be nice. Say Hello Stranger!
kashyap krishna 