In this project, Jikke investigates the Wadden Sea as a living clock: a landscape where countless rhythms intersect. Ebb and flow, the arrival and departure of birds and seals, cloudscapes that change the light every time – all these movements together make the Wadden Sea a dynamic whole that constantly changes form.

The Kinetic Wadden Theater makes this changeability visible. The installation is fully powered by the tides: current water levels from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management translate into mechanical movements, causing wooden figures and gears to come to life in a slow puppet show. At low tide, the work reveals its full dynamism; at high tide, everything quiets down. Thus, a living clock is created that invites visitors to pay careful attention and move along with the rhythm of the Wad.

Besides being an ode to the beauty of change, the work is also a reflection on the vulnerability of this unique area. Climate change, pollution, and human interventions increasingly put pressure on the ecosystem. By giving control to the Wadden itself, the installation emphasizes that nature cannot be directed – and that true connection arises when we adapt to its pace.

In the coming weeks, Jikke will conduct research on Vlieland into the mechanics, story, and design of her work. At the end of her residency, she hopes to present a working test model and a final design.