ARM IN ARM, SWIMMING BACKWARDS
Performance
2025
During the opening of the exhibition ‘Veranderende Vergezichten’ I performed a scene from my thesis titled Intertidal Maladies. The scene was a reflection on the coast of Noord Holland, once known as the Geestlanden or Spirit lands, was seen as infertile before peat and soil was brought from inland to prepare beds for the propagation of bulbs. The performance was a reflection on the colonial notion of a landscape being ‘infertile’ and how this notion played out on and altered the Dutch coast before being exported to the colonies.
This is part of ongoing research into coaslines and their industrial, colonial and socio-ecological histories.
This is part of ongoing research into coaslines and their industrial, colonial and socio-ecological histories.
This project was was part of the Nomadic program at Kunstcentrum de Ploeg in Wehe den Hoorn.
Photos by Heleen Haijtema
Photos by Heleen Haijtema
JE DROOMT OOK VAN JEZELF ALS EEN SCHEPSEL VAN HET MOERAS
(You also dream of yourself as a creature of the swamp)
(You also dream of yourself as a creature of the swamp)
Video
2023
In the summer of 2023 I spent 5 weeks in residence at Kunsthuis SYB in Beetsterzwaag, researching the practice of water witching. Water witching, doodlebugging or wichelroede lopen in Dutch, is a method of looking for underground water or mineral sources using a forked twig or two L shaped copper rods. This practice was made popular in the 16th century by the mining industry in Germany. During my stay in Beetsterzwaag, I spoke to neighbours about their relationships with the frogs, storks, water bodies and peatlands around the town. The film Je droomt ook van jezelf als een schepsel van het moeras is based on a collection of stories shared with me in Beetsterzwaag about the joys and tensions between knowing closely and grieving bodies of water.
This project was made possible with the help of Gisanne Hendriks, Gepke and Jan Harmsma and other dear friends in Beetsterzwaag.
watch the film here
watch the film here
IN THE COURTROOM WITH ROCKS: PLAYGROUND
Installation
2023
Between watching films from the project ‘In the Courtroom with Rocks’ visitors of the ‘Courtroom’ were invited to play in a pile of sand with ceramic and wooden instruments based on mining practices. The installation reflected on the movement of raw materials in a landscape and the separation of ‘pure’ and waste material. The pile of sand was shifted, sifted, prodded, dug into, slapped into molds and played in, leaving new traces/scars/pits each day of the festival.
The installation was part of the Expedition route at Oerol 2023.
A HOUSE TO INHERIT: POSTCARDS FROM THE FUTURE
Installation
2023
Three giant puppets rest in the Tschumi Pavilion after a long walk around the province of Groningen. They’ve been writing postcards about the things theyve witnessed. About their past lives as birds, about the gas beneath the Wadden Zee. They write to the guy in the suit at the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschapij who is on holiday to ask him whether he has found inner peace. They write about a lettuce choir and about a Great Sacrifice.
These postcards were exhibited alongside the memories of the giants resting at the Herenplein.
These postcards were exhibited alongside the memories of the giants resting at the Herenplein.
The work was on view at the Tschumi Pavilion in Groningen in the summer of 2023.
The postcards were written by Finn van der Ziel and the project was made in collaboration with Marina Sulima.
The postcards were written by Finn van der Ziel and the project was made in collaboration with Marina Sulima.