This video installation by Roosje Verschoor, titled '_The Weather Forecast_', utilizes a nine-channel video setup on two screens, looping films that share visual similarities. Presented in a darkened space with a sound installation, the work explores themes of helplessness, the overwhelming nature of imagery, and Western perceptions of borders and responsibility, using water as a central symbol.
Roosje Verschoor's video installation, '_The Weather Forecast_', created in 2016, is presented as a nine-channel video work on two screens, featuring films that loop with visual correspondences. The installation is housed in a dark room with an accompanying sound installation, creating an immersive experience for the viewer. Verschoor states that the work stems from a fascination with the current times, where constant exposure to images and events can lead to a feeling of powerlessness, contrasting with the human tendency to help those in need. The work is particularly influenced by her contemplation of refugee flows and Europe's response, prompting an exploration into the underlying Western thought processes regarding borders and responsibility. Water emerges as a significant symbol, representing both division and life itself, as Europe is bordered by it. The artist's process involved revisiting initial impactful video footage and combining found material with her own recordings. The voice-over is a composition of her own texts, reflecting on the feeling of 'drowning' in news images, the mechanics of a weather forecast, and navigating safely through water when facing a threat. It delves into themes of fear, the illusion of control, and the act of surrender.
Roosje Verschoor, born in 1986, is an internationally exhibiting visual artist with a background in photography from the Rietveld Academy. Her diverse practice includes solo exhibitions and curatorial projects, with a permanent exhibition titled '_Bending Benchmarks_' in Suriname. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions and festivals globally, and her work has been featured in publications like the 'Grote Nederlandse Kunstkalender'. '_The Weather Forecast_' is presented as an entry for the 'Open Call EXODUS' initiative by the Bijbels Museum and Buitenplaats Doornburgh.