Aangeraakt – Rocks is a verb

How does nature look at us? What is the natural state of things? These were some of the research questions that second-year students of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten ATD tackled in the project ‘Aangeraakt – Rocks is a verb’. In interdisciplinary teams of upcoming directors, scenographers and light and sound designers, they worked for five weeks on a study of deep time.
How do we relate to other forms of experiencing time? How do we develop an interactive installation that makes the experience of time visible and tangible through the arts?

In the first week we visited earth scientist Wim van Westrenen , who told us about his research into the origins of the earth and how he looked at the moon to learn more about the earth from there.
We visited the exhibition ‘Oltre Terra’ by Studio Formafantasma Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and sketched a different, theatrical setting for the exhibition.
With the possibilities of the IDlab and the professional/dedicated support of Willem Weemhoff and Dennis Schaffers the students made four installations, in which the spectators were allowed to walk, listen, build, sit, rest, interact and move inside a stone.

I guided this group and dived into the deep time with them. I enjoyed with great admiration the dedication, the responsibility towards each other and the knowledge of technique and materials.

This project is inspired by the book Timefulness, how thinking like a geologist can help save the world – Marcia Bjornerud

Photos installations: Robert van der Ree