FILM IN STREAMING
PART II - TERRITORIES
18.03-20.03.21
Surviving New Land (2010) by Marjolijn Dijkman is seen through the eyes of an explorer just before they disembark upon new shores. A long travelling shot skims a beachy stretch, which is actually none other than the Maasvlakte/Plaine de la Meuse in Rotterdam’s port. Voiceovers are taken from different films which narrate the Western colonisers’ landing on “unknown” territories. The second Maasvlakte was actually built by the same developers as the artificial archipelago “The World” in Dubai; a colossal undertaking where each island was supposed to represent a country. The credit crisis in 2008 led to the project being abandoned, confirming the sheer irony of ever-growing fantasies to conquer new lands in a bid to financially exploit them, all at the cost of natural lifeforms.
Biography
Marjolijn Dijkman is a Dutch, Brussels-based artist and co-founder of Enough Room for Space. Her works can be seen as a form of science fiction; partly based on facts and research but often brought into the realm of fiction, abstraction and speculation. Enough Room for Space initiates long-term experimental research projects, challenging the barriers between different disciplines (artistic, scientific, or activist). Solo exhibitions include: Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center [CAC] (US); HIAP (FI); OSL Contemporary (NO); NOME (DE); Munch Museum (NO); Fig. 2 (UK); West Space (AU); IKON Gallery & Spike Island (UK); Berkeley Art Museum (US). Recent group shows include: Les Parallèles du Sud, Manifesta 13 (FR); 4th Screen City Biennale (NO); 6th Lubumbashi Biennale (DRC); 1st Fiskars Biennale (FI).