Mural at De Hillevliet
Visual artist Krista Burger / heimprofiburger created a mural on the back gate and passageway of De Hillevliet. This 'creative tunnel' connects the Kokerplein with the garden of De Hillevliet, symbolically linking the building to the surrounding neighborhood.

About De Hillevliet
De Hillevliet is a former technical school from 1927 located in Rotterdam South. In 2020, it was repurposed into a vibrant hub for social organizations, creative entrepreneurs, and community initiatives. Managed by Place Based&Co, the space continues to grow into a lively meeting point where collaboration and development are key. Partners such as IMP BV, SKVR, and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen play an active role in shaping its future.

Project Summary – Mural at De Hillevliet

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the forecourt of the Hillevliet building in Rotterdam Hillesluis underwent a transformation, complementing the earlier renovation of the nearby Kokerplein. These upgrades, initiated by the Municipality of Rotterdam, aimed to strengthen the connection between the building and the surrounding neighborhood.

To further enhance this connection, a mural was created in collaboration with Murals Inc., located on the rear gate and the outdoor hallway leading to the garden. This 'creative tunnel' links the Kokerplein to the Hillevliet garden, serving as a visual bridge between the building and the local community.

The artwork is not only a visual enhancement, but also a welcoming gesture—encouraging both residents and visitors to engage with the space. By incorporating local themes and neighborhood identity into the mural, the project fosters a greater sense of pride and belonging among residents.

Krista Burger – artistieke praktijk ‘ IMPROVISE IS WHAT WE DO BEST’

My name is Krista Burger, and I work under the name Heimprofi. As a visual artist, I move between disciplines, with storytelling through imagery at the core of my practice. My work ranges from drawing, painting, and installations to live video, performance, and illustration. The public space has increasingly become my working and presentation environment, where I engage directly with the surroundings. My projects are often site-specific and emerge from wandering, collecting, and building with found materials, allowing me to respond ad hoc to unexpected situations.

Social interaction plays an ever-growing role in my practice. New places offer fresh impressions and encounters. In Venice, where my independent practice began, I explored public space and realized my first exhibition as both curator and artist. During the 49th Venice Biennale, I developed a residency project in the St. Ludovico Church, temporarily transforming the exhibition space into a living and working environment.

After Venice, I moved to Berlin, where I collaborated with Nina Thibo under the name Powerplant (2001–2011), creating video performances that addressed themes such as overconsumption and socio-political hysteria. These performances, often staged in abandoned buildings, left behind autonomous sculptural installations, accompanied by films of the actions. Powerplant was presented at venues including the Van Abbemuseum, Oda Park, and Kunstvlaai Amsterdam.

Collaboration and Shared Ownership – A Catalyst for Personal Growth
Since 2011, I’ve integrated collaboration into my artistic practice. As a member of the collective Locatie Spatie, I met artist Kenneth Letsoin, with whom I’ve developed a longstanding creative partnership. Our joint projects, such as a socially driven mural intervention in Donostia during its time as European Capital of Culture, explored the gaps between institutional programming and everyday realities.

This participatory approach has grown into an engaged practice that spans international exhibitions and community-based installations. I often work with diverse groups—residents, children, seniors—inviting them to co-create and share ownership of the work. My approach emphasizes equality, improvisation, and responsiveness, creating space for individual expression within a collective process.

In projects like Glashard at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam (2021), we invited over 1,000 visitors to contribute posters, ultimately filling the space with a monumental, collaborative installation. This process continued at the Völklingen Hütte Biennale (2024), where we created new works including one made entirely with the public.

Through this practice, I seek genuine exchange—with people and place. The unpredictability of working with others adds energy, insight, and transformation, turning public art into shared experience and dialogue. This openness keeps my work dynamic and deeply connected to the world around it.