With this work, Neil Fortune focuses on the space between what is visible and what eludes our perception. He uses the cyclical nature of tides as a metaphor for questions about rhythm, change, and sensory perception.

The behavior of insects on the island also plays an important role in the work. Many species are highly dependent on daylight, temperature, and humidity – all elements directly influenced by the tides. In the dark, insects develop different strategies: they camouflage themselves, seek alternative food sources, or use light in unexpected ways. This interplay between light and behavior, between day and night, serves as an important source of inspiration for this installation, in which colors change, and shapes disappear or appear depending on the time of day. 

About Neil Fortune

Neil Fortune (1983, Guyana) graduated from the Nola Hatterman Art Academy in Paramaribo, Suriname, after which he received a scholarship to continue his studies at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. There, he earned his BA in Fine Arts. Neil is known for his textile installations, sculptures, drawings, and architectural works. Through his projects, he investigates themes such as transformation and social engagement, and how materials and thematic content can together create space for storytelling and conveying narratives. He seeks an elasticity in the use of materials and how this can play a role in questions of identity and origin. Nature, religion, and architecture play an increasingly prominent role in his projects.

The art program is made possible in part with support from the Mondriaan Fund and De Versterking.