Environmental sociologist Darko Lagunas wondered what human beings can learn from eels. Commissioned by the Embassy of the North Sea, he sought out people with a special, embodied relationship with the eel. As part of his ethnographic research, he created a series of short, filmed portraits in which ‘eel interpreters’ attempt to answer this question. Have a look at the video’s bellow.
The videos were presented in the OBA Oosterdok Amsterdam, 1 – 31 October 2022, framed by a mural painting by artist Dewy Elsinga / BUTTERFINGAZ, inspired by the four metamorphoses of the eel.
With: Theo Rekelhof, eel fisherman; Erwin Winter, fish migration researcher and Noam Youngrak Son, communication designer. In collaboration with: Femke Hermans, color grading; Giulia de Jong, production; Blabla Sounds, audio-editing.
Amsterdam is also home to eels
The Embassy of the North Sea listens to the voices of the North Sea. In Amsterdam we listen to the eel. How do we take care of a city that is also home to eels? In the Oosterdok we are working on an eel park, a shared space for humans and the underwater world. From 1 – 31 October 2022, the OBA Oosterdok hosted a programme about the dialogue with the underworld with videos, workshops, art and film.
Thanks to: Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Ravon, Brave New Works & Vislift
