Monday 27 April
A truly important moment has arrived for me. Tomorrow we leave for Suriname — for the very first time in my life, I will visit the country where my father was born, and where part of my mother's roots lie too.
On my social media I write the next post (in Dutch):
Tuesday 28 April
The next day it's finally here, and I can hardly believe it as we wait at Schiphol to depart for the next international location of Art Project Armazoen: Paramaribo, Suriname!
It's a nice flight, during which I regularly check the little screen on the seat in front of me to see how much distance is still left between me and my Father('s)land.
During the last hour before landing, I do nothing but stare outside in anticipation and curiosity. Not much later, the moment arrives. Below me, the blue of the ocean gradually turns into the brown water that announces the coast of Suriname. And then, suddenly… the border… the land… the rainforest, bewilderingly beautiful, impressive and, it seems, endless. I am overcome by a deep emotion, a sense of being moved, of gratitude and awe. In a strange way, I also feel a kind of nostalgia at the same time, one I can't quite place.
Not long after, we land at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (Zanderij). As I walk down the aircraft's stairs, I'm wrapped in a wonderful embrace of heavy, warm air, while at the same time — or so it feels — I'm symbolically 'baptised' by a downpour of thick raindrops. A fantastic feeling!
I'm here. Finally!
Wednesday 29 April
After the first overwhelming impressions, and having recovered somewhat from the flight, the next day we meet our contextual programming partner at this location, artist Tolin Alexander.
Also with Tolin we went through an extensive process in preparation of this project.
Tolin shows us the beautiful spot where the sea container stands, at the back of the lawn of the Nola Hatterman Art Academy, overlooking the Suriname River. An inspiring and interesting location, both in general and from an artistic point of view.
Tolin's team is busy with the final preparations to get the sea container — in which Dance Film Armazoen will be shown — technically ready.
A completely different thing that has impressed me greatly is the diversity of animals and birds I've already encountered in less than 24 hours! Especially the black vultures flying above us in large numbers is a beautiful, though here and there also somewhat intimidating, sight...
Thursday 30 April
We're picked up early by Tolin. First we have a nice and interesting conversation with Euritha Tjan A Way for her article on Art Project Armazoen for De Ware Tijd Online. Read the article here (in Dutch).
Straight after, an interview for the programme Magazine on ABC Radio & TV. Tolin and I talk about how Art Project Armazoen came about and about the events planned over the coming weeks as part of the contextual programming.
Sunday 3 May
Today, as part of Art Project Armazoen, I lead the dance workshop "The transportation of a story". It explores the thinking behind how the dance film came about, and how I developed this — starting from a single, very stilled and sober movement — for tracing the path that the main character (played by Desta Deekman) follows in the film.
The participants are experienced dance professionals, which helps make it possible to approach the knowledge, experience and material in a very in-depth way.
Given the context of the film — based on a true story — a lot of emotion surfaced during the closing and the discussion afterwards. Being able to experience the act of giving a workshop in this way is something that will stay with me.
More on this journey soon...