Exhibition: Loss, Hope and wonder at NL=US Art in Rotterdam .
Marjan Laaper approaches video as a sculptural medium. Filmed from a single, fixed viewpoint — that of the viewer — her works are projected on a monumental scale. The videos capture brief moments that seem to stretch into eternity, like living sculptures or moving photographs. Through repetition and stillness, her installations create a space where time slows, inviting quiet reflection. In the exhibition “Loss, Hope and Wonder”, animals take centre stage. They appear as independent, quietly present beings, drawing the viewer into moments of wonder, fragility, and connection.
The exhibition features five video works:
Video installation: "Requiem in Slow Motion"
In the video installation: Requiem in Slow Motion, an Indian rhinoceros lies motionless on the ground. A magpie accompanies the rhinoceros, on its back, watching over the enormous animal. The massive body of the rhinoceros evokes strength and protection, yet in this context, it seems in vain. The body remains still, with only the rhinoceros’s ears occasionally moving, as if attuned to environmental sounds and birdsongs. Over time, the deep tones of a musical piece emerge, reminiscent of film music or a requiem. The title: Requiem in Slow Motion evokes the image of a slowly, intense farewell—a symbol of something grand and precious that is lost or disappearing.
Video installation:"The Gathering" (3 prairie Dogs).
The video installation: The Gathering presents a scene in which two prairie dogs come together around the motionless body of a companion. Against a brightly sunlit, sandy backdrop, an image unfolds that is intimate and universal. On either side of the body sit two fellow beings: one gazes motionlessly, the other with a bowed head, occasionally glancing around as if seeking eye contact. The viewer becomes part of this silent moment, where the boundaries between observation and engagement blur.
Video installation:"Wings" (Cormorant)
In the video Wings, a cormorant stands like a statue, balanced on a small rock in the water, its wings spread in the sun. The surrounding environment is blurred and soft-focused, allowing the bird to emerge in sharp relief. Its head is slightly raised, sometimes directed toward the sky, the surrounding, or the viewer. The bird appears fully surrendered to the light that surrounds it, spreading its wings toward the viewer.
Video installation:"Feeding the birds"
In Feeding the Birds, a Chinese porcelain figurine of a standing woman can be seen, arms raised to the sky, offering food. Various birds approach and eat from her hands, as if participating in a ritual encounter. The birds seem to communicate, creating an interaction between the sculpture, the birds, and the viewer.
Video installation: "A sense of wonder"
In A Sense of Wonder, a Chinese porcelain figurine of a seated woman is depicted. On her hand crawls a snail, exploring its surroundings with wonder. There is a striking contrast between the living insect and the static sculpture. While the theme of wonder is present in both the figurine and the searching snail, the image also evokes a sense of estrangement. Together, they appear to form a small universe to be explored and discovered. The female figure is dressed in an early Qing dynasty (1644) costume, though the figurine itself dates from the late 20th century, celebrating both the past and the potential bond between humans and nature can have.
