Jikke Lesterhuis – ‘The Cycle of the Wadden Sea’

Jikke Lesterhuis is a Dutch artist who focuses on puppetry and animation, two art forms that center around transformation. Her work breathes life into the lifeless, turning everyday objects into characters that think, feel, and connect.

During her residency, she explores the cyclical nature of the Wadden Sea in her project The Cycle of the Wadden Sea. Inspired by her own experiences as a sailor in the Wadden Islands, she creates a performance where humans are not merely spectators of nature, but are intrinsically connected to it. With the help of stop-motion animation and puppets, she brings the stories of the Wadden Sea to life, with an eye for the interaction between humans and nature.

Anne Fehres & Luke Conroy – ‘Bottled Up’

Anne Fehres and Luke Conroy are collaborating on the project Bottled Up. As an interdisciplinary duo, they will work together during all phases of research and production, utilizing their specific expertise – Anne in film and audiovisual design and Luke in sociology, visual arts, and education.

Bottled Up will be an audiovisual and interactive installation where plastic water bottles engage in a fictional and playful dialogue. The bottles share their 'life stories', addressing current issues such as climate change, water management, and the impact of waste on the ecosystem of the Wadden region. The installation combines digital collage techniques, video, sound, and performance, and is fueled by conversations with scientists and experts.

Mels van Zutphen – ‘Sound of the Wadden Sea’

Mels van Zutphen focuses on film, photography, and sound and video installations. Nature and science are a significant source of inspiration for this Dutch artist. By observing, documenting, and staging, he attempts to challenge our perception of 'reality'. With this, he aims to show both the beauty and absurdity of the human drive to explain the world around us. During his project Sound of the Wadden Sea, he focuses on the science and natural processes of the Wadden area and translates the ongoing processes of erosion, sedimentation, and tidal movements into a sound work. With the help of field recordings and data, he creates a dynamic sound sculpture, complemented by a live performance and video recording, making the hidden rhythms and patterns of the Wadden area audible.