Stories about the battle against the water are part of the history of the Netherlands. The raging sea not only had to be conquered, land was also conquered from the sea, pumped dry, worked and cultivated. Today, due to climate change, we are faced with new questions and uncertainties about the influence of water on our existence: what will we do if the sea level rises? Will we then build higher dykes to keep the water away from the land? Or should we try to restore our relationship with nature and talk about the sea and WITH the sea in other ways? 'Talk with me' are words that come from the human imagination, but express what the sea could tell us if we open up to restore that relationship.

This video poem was the start of the artistic research about our relationship with the sea and with nature. It led to the initiative Vloed, that launched in 2023.

Vloed (talk with me) (2022)

Concept, poetry, voice: Anika van de Wijngaard
Concept, photography, editing, sound design: Jos Agasi

– Video 2.19 min
– Video performance @ Ministry of the Future, A44 viaduct Leiden, 2022
– Video installation @ Vloed launch exhibition, gallery Old School Leiden, 2023