An exhibition by Between Two Hands
Oceanus was an object-based performance made entirely from ceramics, developed
by Erin Thin A Ton and Gosia Kaczmarek during a three-month residency at the European Ceramic Work
Centre in Oisterwijk.
In this interactive performance, the audience was invited to connect with the
phenomenon of water. Water is often taken for granted, yet the water scarcity in the
Netherlands in the hot summer of 2018 served as a poignant reminder of its
preciousness. With climate change, many people around the world now face
uncertainty about clean drinking water.
Looking to create a ritual to show our reverence and gratitude towards water, Oceanus guided the audience past three ceramic altars: two ceramic hands, representing water as a scarcity; a ceramic boat symbolising water’s role in connecting people and goods; and a bathtub, representing water in abundance.
As the audience moved from altar to altar, they held small ceramic objects in their
hands, such as droplets, noses and ears, and became part of the work. During the
procession, dancers performed rituals to guide the participants through a meditative
experience deeply appreciative of the water in our lives.
Photo’s made by Thomas Lenden