UNCERTAIN UNIVERSES

The exhibition space of 38CC has been transformed into a fluorescent landscape in the summer of 2017. The island of sugar, candy, glitter and fake flowers and plants is based on various representations of ‘Luilekkerland’, a Dutch 15th and 16th century fairytale. The fairytale is both an imagination and a warning of an ideal world.

The quest for happiness and new land, the imagination of paradise and the pleasure experienced by consuming goods is expressed. At first sight, Schultz’s landscapes have the same effect on the viewer as the witch’s house has on Hansel and Gretel. There is, however, more behind the fragrant and colorful sweetness. Despite the attractive, cheerful and carefree appearance of the ‘psychedelic candylands’, it is difficult not to associate the large amounts of sweets with the aforementioned phenomena concerning sugar, such as colonialism, slavery and capitalism.

In addition to the exhibition itself there has been a lecture on the ‘sugar route’ by Erik Schmitz, curator of the Amsterdam City Archives. He is researching this self-coined concept. The concept is inspired by the Silk Route, and he has explored the various routes along which trade has been conducted to provide the worldwide population with sugar for many centuries, to which there is still an increasing demand. The Netherlands has played a crucial role in this trade.

I curated the exhibition together with junior curator of 38CC, Jip Hinten.

About 38CC
Exhibition space 38CC has been running an exhibition program with contemporary arts since 2008. High-quality and a supralocal appearance are central to this. As a starting point for the programming, 38CC draws on the social discourse that is currently being held about social and cultural identity.

www.38CC.nl

Photos: Frank Driessen