The Unsafe House
The Unsafe House is a multidisciplinary art collective and studio based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The group describes itself as avant-garde, working across geographical, aesthetic, and artistic borders. It seeks to cultivate what it terms "unsafe ideas," presenting itself as a contrast to collectives that align with political or ideological agendas.
History
Origins
The Unsafe House was founded in 2021 following its first public exhibition at Studio The Unsafe House in Amsterdam.Tarik Sadouma was an important early member of The Unsafe House. Sadouma was born in Amsterdam and spent part of his youth in Egypt. He studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, graduating with honors. In a 2025 interview in FeltenINK, Sadouma discussed his upbringing, personal philosophy, and the goals of The Unsafe House. Prior to founding The Unsafe House, Sadouma was a founding member of the Dutch video art collective Keeping It Real Art Critics. He left KIRAC in 2021 following disagreements over a film involving French writer Michel Houellebecq.
Philosophy and activities
The collective describes itself as "a safe space for unsafe ideas," distancing itself from what it characterizes as political conformism in the arts. Its work draws on themes of ritual, allegory, and myth, blending Western and Middle Eastern imagery in compositions that incorporate fairy-tale and nightmarish elements.The Unsafe House produces installations, sculptures, paintings, performances, and audio-visual content. Its public programs have included events such as the US Election Night Watchparty, as well as The Unsafe Podcast and Unsafe Talks, which feature conversations with artists, thinkers, and public figures. Notable guests include Iranian musician Mohsen Namjoo and political theorist Curtis Yarvin.
Creeps from the Middle East
The Unsafe House is affiliated with the satirical series Creeps from the Middle East, starring comedian Sina Khani. The project combines fictional and documentary elements with film noir and absurdist comedy. Members of the collective appear in the series and contribute to its production.2026 Venice Biennale Proposal
In 2025, Curtis Yarvin and Vladislav Davidzon proposed a collaboration with The Unsafe House for the U.S. Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The project, titled Salon des Déplorables, drew inspiration from the 19th-century Salon des Refusés and aimed to challenge perceived ideological orthodoxy in contemporary art institutions. The exhibition concept centered on the Titian painting The Rape of Europa, proposing to feature the original painting or a replica to explore themes of cultural identity and Western civilization.The Ukrainian-American journalist Vladislav Davidzon is a core member of the collective.