Pemba, Mozambique

Water. The ocean. At night the water draws back, and lit by the full moon the beach changes into a landscape subtly shaped by the push and pull of the tide – coming and going. Large plains of sand veined with small streams of water, rough ridges. To walk on it would make me a sinner. As if I were to sabotage the perfectly shaped landscape. Still I cannot hold back and I run – or rather: jump – from plain to plain. Large steps, so to leave as few imprints as possible.

Bilibiza, Mozambique

The next days we – my travel companion and I – travel inland. Water is the key word of this trip, but is what is lacking from our surroundings. Its absence just leaves me slightly dusty, but for the local population it is a different story. Women walk for miles with many liters balancing on their head. I fantasize about the strength of their necks – men cannot carry this.

At times we come across water in frugal lakes. There they bathe, they defecate, wash, and drink. The water makes their bodies sick and beautifully shiny at the same time. It feeds and dries out. The water almost acts like real life.

The people that live inland follow the rhythm of the sunrise and sunset. Normally that is not how I live, but I manage quite well. When waking up is hard, a 3 hour car ride will make sure it happens. My travel companion was brave enough to declare she wanted to lie in fetal position. Her request is met and straight away a large pothole in the road ensures she hits the ceiling in one fluid motion – in fetal position. The painful shriek from the driver tells he was not prepared for this bump in the road either. The chained but live goat in the jeep in front of us cries out but realizes a few seconds later that the hit might have freed him. With his front legs still tied together he tries to escape. Men in flip-flops chase him. Secretly we wish that the goat will succeed, but as his chances are slim we decide to leave the scene to pee in the small cornfield behind the house – toilets are scarce. When we return the goat is tied to the jeep again. When asked why the goat was not slaughtered before this terrible trip the men respond: ‘but we need water to clean ourselves afterwards’.

The jeep takes us to small villages. In just a few days we make a lot of miles. From time to time we pull over by one of the lakes filled with waste water. A few times I feel the urge to jump into it. Not because the water looks so inviting, but because the small children that play in it are changed into shiny glassy shapes – a nice contrast to the dusty dry land.

After a few days the conclusion is clear: there is no shortage of water. Dirty water. Fine for a dive, less suitable for drinking. The water pumps that were installed supply clean drinking water. And clean drinking water is a basic need for every (wo)man. Dirty lakes and pretty bodies – it is not enough. Not for the shining children, not for the strong-necked women, not for the goat.

COLLABORATION Marie Stella Maris X Robin de Puy

Amsterdam Art Fair
On the first floor there will be a exhibition with portraits by Robin de Puy, initiated by the new Dutch National Portrait Gallery in collaboration with Wim van Krimpen and Ravestijn Gallery.

A New Art Fair
Wim van Krimpen, former director of the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague and the Kunsthal Rotterdam, as well as the founder of the KunstRAI in 1984, thought it was about time for a new art fair: “With the reopening of the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam has regained its position as the cultural heart of the Netherlands. What Amsterdam now needs is a fair where quality in an international setting is key and where both, the experienced art connoisseur and the fledgling collector feel at home and make unique discoveries”.

Kunsthal Citroën
The Amsterdam Art Fair will take place from May 27th until and including May 31st 2015 in the Kunsthal Citroën, located in the former Citroën garage at the Stadionplein in Amsterdam. Invited by Wim van Krimpen and Francis Boeske, gallery owner and co-organizer, a varied selection of 40 galleries will participate in this first edition; proudly representing the best of the Dutch contemporary art market.

More information: www.amsterdamartfair.nl

“Ik vind dat het een beetje mag wringen. Daarmee bedoel ik dat het mooi mag zijn, maar niet te mooi.”

LEES INTERVIEW