Toto's latest version
My name is Toto and I want to share with you my journey of creating, reflecting, and positioning myself during my first two semesters studying LBM. During this time, I have created several video works, most of which can be described as non-fiction, socially engaged, reflective, and nonlinear. An exemplary work for my self-directed research was short film called 'The Tallinn Cruise', which explored conflicting narratives surrounding cruise ships in Rotterdam. This film was created for the Eye Research Lab and allowed me to experiment with new methodologies in my practice as a (film)maker. However before diving into this project, I initially researched on the concept of Utopia and went through several iterations before completing my EYE film.
My artistic projects typically start with a visual inspiration, such as an image or a concept, and evolve from there. Contrary to starting visually, my first semester began with a concept: the exploration of Utopia. Motivation started I think due to the context of living in a world with a lot of problems and crises, in these dark times, I sought something optimistic.
This desire for alternative realities and escape routes led me to research and explore through film and art.
I have the feeling to be neither the cause nor the solution to these problems. By this ambiguous feeling towards the current crises and unsure of my role in solving them, I felt compelled to delve into the idea of Utopia as a form of hope and maybe escapism. This desire for alternative realities and escape routes led me to research and explore through film and art. Additionally, the fantastical and unreachable nature of Utopia added to its appeal for visual exploration. Drawing on my background In journalism, I began by asking others about their visions of Utopia, seeking to understand how different people perceive this ideal world.
Could they envision a Utopia, a perfect world, that goes beyond just wealth in a capitalist society?
I conducted interviews at various public street markets to gather strangers' perspectives on this question. I was pleasantly surprised how many people wanted to engage and interact on this topic and the interviews led to the creation of a short interview based video. While I was initially pleased with the outcome, I realized that to capture a diverse range of viewpoints, I needed to interview a larger and more varied group of people. This approach didn't align with the time constraints of the Eye Project, which limited videos to 3 to 4 minutes.
During this time, I also visited the port of Rotterdam with my classmate, Zhuang, as we were both intrigued by exploring this significant yet often overlooked location.
As I delved into the origins of the concept of utopia, I discovered a strong link to seafaring and the exploration of unknown territories, sparking fantasies of isolated islands with imaginative societies. While examining the scenery of the port area, I attempted to draw connections to the idea of Utopia. However, the industrialized landscape seemed more like a dystopia. I was curious about the individuals operating the machinery: the workers, the seamen. Did they ever envision a utopia for themselves? Through a news article, I discovered a volunteer-run establishment that provided a sanctuary for seamen in a small village (Oostvoorne) near the port. During our second visit with Zhuang, a Chinese seaman agreed to participate in an interview. This led to a 20-minute conversation where he shared insights into his daily life at sea, his thoughts on his job, past and present, his time away from home, his aspirations, and his vision of utopia. While this encounter was incredibly meaningful to me, practical considerations and ethical concerns made it challenging to conduct multiple interviews with seamen in a short period of time. As a result, I decided to put this project on hold for the time being.
At the same time, while still pondering Utopia and the port, I rode my bike across the Erasmus bridge and spotted a massive cruise ship docked at the Wilhelminakade. This sight sparked a realization in me: cruise ships serve as spaces where a perfect world is recreated, a miniature utopia filled with all sorts of pleasures. However, I also recalled that these same cruise ships have been used recently as temporary housing for refugees in Rotterdam. This strange paradox intrigued me instantly, and as I delved deeper into the topics of cruises, tourism, and refugees, I knew that the cruise ship would be the focal point of my EYE project.
As I observed and researched cruise ships, tourist culture, and the refugee crisis, I pondered how to merge these separate realities into one cohesive piece. Finally I utilized various methodologies in the creation of the final film, playing with different narratives to highlight the contrast between them. The process of making the film felt like an exploration of methods, as I navigated how to tell the story, provide guidance, and determine where to draw the line.
Initially, I took on the role of an observer, capturing images of the ships from a distance. I also wanted to engage in a participatory approach by conducting interviews. My original plan was to board the different ships to directly contrast the tourist cruise with the one housing refugees. However, accessing the refugee cruise at short notice proved to be impossible.Beside the practical challenges, there was a moral dilemma regarding the portrayal of vulnerable individuals in art projects. Cihad Caner proposed the idea of incorporating reenactment to address, play or find a solution with these ethical and practical concerns.
To push myself out of my comfort zone, I decided to try a new approach that I had never used in my previous non-fiction projects. Taking inspiration from presenting physical narration, such as Salah Edin's performance in Wendelien van Oldenborgh's work "No False Echoes," I wanted to see if I could successfully incorporate this technique. I took on the role of a neutral presenter, narrating different stories between cruise ships. This was my first attempt at blending observational non-fiction with on-camera performance.
In addition to using observation and performance, I incorporated a playful element by using a miniature playmobil cruise ship to further explore characterizations of cruise culture. I also recognized the importance of humor in addressing complex issues.
Reflecting on my experiences in past semesters, I realized themes of self-confrontation, revelation, exploration, and humor. I found myself drawn to creating social impact through humor and playful reflections, while also grappling with the challenges of self-exploration and questioning my own position.
Throughout my projects, I consistently found myself looking for contradictions and interviewing others, as well as using observation to explore social clashes and paradoxes. This thematic exploration has been a common thread in my work, including the cruise ship film and other projects.
The eye project led me to new insights and reflections on different methodologies, prompting me to question how to incorporate additional perspectives into my work. Cihad Caner's seminar challenged me to consider how art can create social impact and left me pondering the possibilities. Moving forward, I aim to refine my project and delve deeper into the questions it has raised. I am also interested in exploring power dynamics in my work and potentially creating a project in the form of a dialogue.
I was considering providing unseen refugees with cameras to document their experiences on the Cruise asylum or in the Netherlands. Another idea I had was to create a portrait of a seaman who sends me videos of their diary through their phone and create a shared project.
Additionally, I am interested in exploring the concept of utopia further. I have two other ideas I want to pursue: an experimental film driven by audio and rhythm, focusing on the structural aspects of filmmaking rather than narrative; and a fictional film incorporating magic realism as a genre. I want to delve into the magical and societal aspects of magic realism which could be a great way to explore critical reflections in a less patronizing manner.