The Same Room

A vacated, cluttered bedroom fills slowly with water. The bed is already under water and, due to the motion of the waves, seems to breathe gently. A strange kind of calm exists, as if it is all a dream. Minne Kersten (1993) filmed her video work in a replica bedroom at an institute that researches water as part of flood preparedness. The flooded room elicits visions of disasters and water's destructive power. It is a distressing image in light of current climate developments, especially in a city such as Amsterdam, which lies below sea level. Kersten is fascinated by the feelings of serenity and calm that can arise in the midst of a crisis. In moments of actual need and loss, a person may experience a heightened sense of clarity. They may take a step back and observe as time passes by. This can allow space to think about the end as a transitional state, rather than something definitive. Transcend the future!