These days sustainability is a trendy thing, but living a sustainable and green life seems to be a real challenge. The art event ‘Yes Naturally’, a collaboration between Stichting Niet Normaal and the community museum of The Hague, tries to get the real discussion about sustainability started. This is done by presenting art that shows us an unusual relationship between people and the environment. The artists of ‘Yes Naturally’ want to show a world where people aren’t seen as the most powerful entities of the earth. They show man and environment as equals, who live together in one dynamic whole where there is no distinction between nature and culture, subject and object, man and technology.
The exhibition is filled with all kinds of artworks, from paintings to movies to incredible installations and sculptures. These are all set up in and around the museum and every room and location has their own subject. The entire exhibition contains artworks of more than 80 artists including: Ai WeiWei, Francis Alys, Jimmie Durham, Olafur Eliasson, Peter Fend, Fischli & Weiss, Natalie Jeremijenko, Marjetica Potrč,… The absolute highlight of ‘Yes Naturally’ is placed in the entrance of the museum: a gigantic water lily made by Keith Edmier. This water lily is a perfect example of a collaboration between nature and technology: the lily is made out of high quality plastics but still, the flowers contain real anther dust.
Ine Gevers, the director of ‘Yes Naturally’, told us: “If there is one thing I would like to reach with this exhibition it would be to stir up discussion about how we look at the world and how we are all trying to be powerful.” She also gave us her view on a perfect society: “The perfect society would be an inclusive society where everything and everyone is equal. To make this society we need art, because art is necessary to change peoples vision on society.”
I highly recommend visiting the exhibition since I found it to be a wonderful experience. While walking around, it’s impossible not to think about our world and the role we play in it. And also, the artworks really are extraordinary. For now the exhibition will only be shown in The Hague but museum director Ine Gevers said that there are plans to go international. This would be a great thing of course, since sustainability is an important topic all over the world.
‘Yes Naturally’ runs from March 16, 2013 until August 16, 2013 in the community museum of The Hague.
Check out their website for more information: http://ja-natuurlijk.com/language/en/
You can also follow the activities of Yes Naturally on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/janatuurlijk2013?fref=ts
Credits pictures:
All pictures were taken by Richard de Bruijn
1) Alfredo and Maria Isabel Aquilizan, In-Habit, 2012
2) Alfredo and Maria Isabel Aquilizan, In-Habit, 2012
3)Maartje Korstanje, Untitled, 2011
4) Sjaak Langenberg en Rosé de Beer, Fora & Fauna, 2012–2013
5) Ton Matton, Plants Liberation Forest, 2013
6) Joost Elffers & Michiel Schwarz , “The Nature of Sustainism—Three Symbols”, 2013
7) Keith Edmier, Victoria Regia (First Night Bloom), 1998
8)Tea Mäkipää, Petrol Engine Memorial Park, 2010
