Sandsongs

Sandsongs / 18th June 2016 / 19 – 24 hrs
location: Argusmast, Zandmotor.    http://iiinitiative.org/event/sand-songs/

Sand Songs was specifically conceived for the Zandmotor by an international group of interdisciplinary artists and students that have been invited to imagine this location in the terms of a musical instrument that is performed by human activity as much as by the natural elements. Sandsongs is presented by the iii in collaboration with the ArtScience Interfaculty, the Satellietgroep and TodaysArt.

Kay Churcher, Cecile Gentili and Sophie Rust proudly presented the outcome of their research of the elementslab during the Sandsongs festival among the other participating artists: Marije Baalman, Lars Kynde, Tobias Lukassen, Christian Liljedahl, Ana Lemnaru, Grzegorz Marcinak, Maya Verlaak, Adam Basanta, David Pocknee, Tena Lazarevic, and Jesse Smits.

It was a challenging event, concerning several showers falling down and the pretty severe wind during the building up in the day,  but the spirit was high, and we all melted down seeing soooo many happy faces walking around in the evening.

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Tourne Vent – Kay Churcher: A 30 piece installation of metal sculptures that are turned by the wind. In this field of kinetic works, each piece produces a haunting, abrasive sound as they are put into motion. The interaction between these pieces, each of different heights and dimensions, produces a conversation between the variety of sounds.

Close your eyes – and open your ears – Cécile  Gentili: We will explore the Zandmotor and work on our awareness of our sonic and sensorial environment. Each walk will involve a group of participants and guides. The guides will lead participants on a blindfolded walk. Then participants will take off the blindfolds and retrace the walk together, exchanging impressions on the experience.

Aurora – Sophie Rust: Aurora is an installation visualizing the motion of the wind.  75 bottles each containing a wind generator powering an LED lamp are spread out over a sand dune, like reverse candles that light up when blowing on them. As the wind rushes over the sand the lights come alive, making perceivable the variations in wind velocity at different points in space.

All photo credits: Pieter Kers | Beeld.nu

Goodbye elements lab

It has been a wonderful year with almost weekly Elements Labs. It has changed my view on the elements, opened my eyes again for the art of nature. I felt in love with the place and sometimes hated it when it was stronger than me and I couldn’t enjoy the beautiful view because the elements soaked or froze me. It was an impressive journey to an extreme place so close home. We traveled from summer to winter and back and missed autumn and spring. We were water bags and dancing body points. We scooped, watched, listened, danced and read. It was an expedition I would not have missed. Thank you Cocky and fellow students, Kenzo, Sattellietgroep and iiinitiative.

Going Nowhere

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

 

I stepped out into the world

As if for the first time,

The sun kissed my face

Asking for nothing in return.

The darkness that once consumed me

Lifted.

I found myself smiling

For no particular reason other than

I was here.

Living.

 

Video: Going Nowhere

Photos from SandSongs Project

On June 18th I will be participating in the SandSongs festival at the Zandmotor. I will be presenting a development of my piece in December, a 30 part installation of wind sculptures on the Zandmotor.

Here are some photographs of my piece as it is now.

Experiences from The Zandmotor

4/4/16

I can feel a storm rolling in. The wind is blowing the waves flat and grey, like sheet metal. It’s picking up, the wind has a real bite to it now, truly warning us of what is about to come.

I sit here on a sandy cliff overlooking the sea, knowing my homeland lies just beyond it. The colours of the sea range from the cool grey of my eyes, through a molten brown until just before the horizon sits a strip of teal; so unexpected in this seemingly barren landscape.

 

11/4/16

I move through the beach, feeling. My feet bare.

They feel the texture, the temperature, the saturation, the grain. As I walk from hard sand to soft sand my calves work hard, my feet spread as they try to find a balance, a hold.

I move and am moved by the landscape. The wind pushes me. The waves pull me. The sand persuades me. By the changing textures I prefer smoother ground. By the changing gradient I prefer flatter ground.

The wind blows the sand onto my ankles; biting, snapping. Yet it is not painful. Simply a new sensation.

The shells beneath my sensitive feet are sharp blades. Yet they are not painful. Simply a new sensation.

The water runs over my toes, under my arches, around my heel. It is cold. But it invites me to join its rhythm. After a time the fresh hits of the waves feel like home, as familiar as my own heartbeat.

Stadsdeeljournaal Scheveningen

Marleen van Staal from staddeeljournaal Scheveningen came to the Elementslab to make a local video-reportage of our work. This is a real cult movie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLk5ZlW7BtjZRSs9-ghTv14iztx4dQbFnP&v=5L6rO364ROc and watch it till the very last moment!

or goto:http://www.stadsdeeljournaalscheveningen.nl/wijk-televisie-journaal/and look for Satelietgroep Zandmotor – published 26 mei 2016.

Victoria’s film: presented on festival Designkwartier

MAY 27-29
THE ELEMENTSLAB @ FESTIVAL DESIGNKWARTIER, THE HAGUE
The Satellietgroep presented arts and design, research and products that reflect coastal transitions, climate change and the human role in these processes. With Atelier NL, Theun Karelse, Elements lab of the ArtScience Interfaculty, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet, Aliki van der Kruijs, Waterpioneer & De Onkruidenier.
http://www.festivaldesignkwartier.nl

Victoria Douka-Doukopoulou summarizes the research in a video about the Elementslab of the past semester in het own poetic way.. The film was presented in de Tempel, Department of Archeology, Nature and Environment, The Hague.

Thank you Victoria!
vimeo.com/dkdkpl/elements

elements lab from Victoria Douka-Doukopoulou on Vimeo.