Doosmens
- Location: Lakenhal, Leiden · Steur, Rotterdam
- Program: Interactive audiovisual installation
- Year: 2021-2022
- Type: Art installation
‘If Things Grow Wrong’ was the theme of Lakenhal’s open call. The museum was searching for solutions to today's consumeristic, competitive and capitalistic society. As student architects, these terms definitely not new, with its infamous working overtime and competing culture. Wanting to expand our artistic world outside of architecture and experience the production of a project from beginning to end, Max Bernearts and Dina Al-Hamdany and I worked together to create an installation. Through this project we were able to reflect on the nature of the field that we are part of. And so, Doosmens was born.
My contribution to this project lied mostly in working out and elaborating to the conceptual idea of Doosmens. All three of us worked on the construction of the installation together.
The concept for Doosmens grew out of literally wanting to at times put a box over your head when things get to much. Being a Doosmens however, will give you more than just closing off from the outside world.Inside the box bilateral sounds are played, that are often used for working through traumatic experiences. Being in the box will give the user its well deserved society therapy. By experiencing the therapy in the open, while being looked at by other visitors in place where you may feel uncomfortable to have the moment's rest, we want to stimulate visitors to take such moments of rest in the comfort of their own homes as well. As through Doosmens we hope to teach people that it is okay to take a break sometimes.
There have been two renditions of Doosmens yet. After Lakenhal Doosmens was asked to display at Rotterdam Art Week. For this rendition we reworked the concept, by letting the outside world influence the sound inside the box. This to further show how even when shutting off, you can still feel society linger in the background.
Concept drawing of Doosmens in Lakenhal Museum
Technical drawing of Doosmens
Finalised Doosmens in Lakenhal Museum
Second rendition of Doosmens in Steurgebouw