Catalogue > At random

"Object Reconnaissance" is a work of fiction that depicts actual artifacts, historical archives, and museum collections from the Netherlands. The story is set in the 1960s and references events such as the Indonesian mass killings, the Free Papua Movement, and stories of forced displacement. The narrative follows the fictional character Ratna "Merah Muda" Bakti, an Indonesian activist associated with the Gerwani movement who fled to the Netherlands in 1965 during the political crisis. In the present day, her granddaughter, Ria Bloem, seeks to uncover Merah's past by exploring letters, family albums, and Super 8 films. During her investigation, Ria discovers photos of a significant ceremonial object, a seashell, which has gone missing. Intrigued, she sets out to find the shell, leading her to uncover family secrets that shed light on Dutch colonial history.

Stefanos Tsivopoulos is an interdisciplinary visual artist, filmmaker, writer, and educator who divides his time between Amsterdam, New York, and Athens. Known for his research-based work on archives and the unique visual style of his films, which blend found footage with cinematic sequences, Tsivopoulos is motivated by a pressing need to delve into the anthropological aspects of contemporary global crises. These include ecological, economic, political, social, and cultural issues. His body of work focuses on personal and collective histories, examining their influence on present-day socio-political discourses. Throughout his 15-year career, Tsivopoulos has written, directed, and produced over 30 short and medium-length films across different countries.