Mayte Breed
CV
Hydrogen Bonds 2023-2024
Commissioned by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Installation, photography, workshop and zine
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) and KABK initiated a project that invited me to work on NWO’s research programme Closed Cycles. By collaborating with academic researcher, Dr. ir. Ruud Bartolomeus, I explored the connection between scientific and artistic research and how art can serve as a tool to communicate more complex issues. More information on Closed Cycles here.
By documenting the physical water on the flooded dune lands in Egmond aan Zee, I was able to zoom in on the local effects and consequences of groundwater regulations. I collected the stagnated water and used this for the process of emulsion lifting, a technique where water separates the emulsion layer of a polaroid which can then be transferred onto a new material. For the emulsion lifts, I used archive imagery that I found by diving into the historic communal events of Egmond. By activating this archive with water, I demonstrate how the communities were brought together by water in the first place, but how the water on the flooded Lankies now disrupts the communities from coming together.
I found inspiration in the dune lands, where the locals experience issues with water regulations and the history of Egmond. I connect this history and the current issues with the medium of water. Like a hydrogen bond. As a fishing town, water is what made the village stick together in the first place. It is their connecting factor, and now, they are a witness to the community falling behind because of water.
In May 2024 the results were presented in the form of an exhibition and workshop, during NWO Life 2024 scientific conference in Egmond aan Zee. Which coincidentally is also the village where I was born and have lived for 18 years. This coincidence sparked my motivation to create a site-specific work in my hometown. The exhibition Flowing Forward in Closed Cycles continued in location space Paradise, The Hague in July 2024.
During the conference, I gave an emulsion lift workshop as a take on my work. The participants used their imagery related to the topic ‘waterbody’. We discussed my project, the role of water and why they chose their image. What we stumbled upon during the workshop was making mistakes. As the participants were mainly for the field of research, making mistakes in their profession is not acceptable. While in art a mistake can be admired, and even be a starting point for something new.