Meet the artists and their artworks

Lorena Rode

Practices of mourning our natural world

Tales of the Extinct is an art project that aims to build a practice of mourning for the vast amount of loss of the natural world that we face today. The works and words act as artistic fossils that carry on lost or forgotten legacies. Handcraft and fable is used to honor plant species, to represent and re-imagine their intrinsic value. The artist thereby pledges for their right to be known, protected and preserved.

The science of handcraft is well fused with organic shapes by using both hard and soft materials. By doing so, the works attempt to bridge the gap between our idea of human-made vs. made by nature. This imagined binary worsens and weakens our connection to other species at large. The artist hopes the artworks awaken curiosity, connectivity and a sense of care towards our lost species as well as those that still live among us.

Yufei Gao

Gaia, how are you today?

In our modern urban homes, only a part of nature remains in the clay pot. To reflect on our relationship with the non-human through technology, Yufei Gao made a collection of terracotta pots. Each pot is 3D printed using the weather data of one specific day. The more the temperature, the humidity and the wind speed deviate from their averages, the more distorted the shape becomes. In this way, the extremely precise 3D printer must surrender to the mood of Gaia, embodying the long-neglected voice of the non-human.

Bibi Bliekendaal

‘The Green Car’ Greening Urban Carpark

The concept of transforming a car park space into a living, growing car sculpture in the heart of Amsterdam represents a departure from conventional notions of transportation and urban utilisation. Rooted in the idea of reconnecting with nature and community, this project symbolises a shift away from the fast-paced, consumptive culture towards a slower, more intentional way of living. By cultivating a sculpture with plants in the confines of a parking space, the artist not only challenges the dominance of car culture, but also creates a novel, shared space for reflection and interaction.

Documenting the process of this living artwork as a digital installation further emphasises the interconnectedness between urban spaces, social architecture and nature, inviting viewers to witness the slow, deliberate growth of the sculpture as a counterpoint to the immediacy of modern life.

KIEM

Climate Grief and Inter-species Neighbourliness

The installation challenges traditional notions of climate justice by extending empathy and consideration to non-human species, aiming to disrupt hierarchical structures and human-centric environmental shaping within urban spaces. The artwork consists of two butterflies crafted from dried chestnut leaves, accompanied by a soundwork that immerses visitors in the experience. The narrative behind the piece originates from the loss of green spaces in Amsterdam-Noord, prompting reflection on the grief for trees and their ecosystems. Drawing from folklore and myths of souls returning as butterflies, the artist expanded the concept of mourning to encompass both human and non-human losses.

Complementing the visual aspect, the sound work incorporates the rustling of autumn leaves from neighboring trees in Amsterdam-Noord, evoking the presence of the wind as a carrier of souls. Intertwined with text reflecting on grief and remembrance for lost trees, the soundwork invites visitors to immerse themselves in the auditory landscape, enhancing the multi- sensory experience of the installation.

Our student program makers

Every year, a group of talented students join their forces together at VOX-POP. Through a talent development program, they gain experience as cultural program makers. They learn to curate and produce a program, from editing to production. The 2023-2024 program team consists of Fern, Tessel, Miles, Sara and Pati!