night, mother

sleep, sleep, my child
I have things to do
wash your clothes
sit me down to sew 1

how oft have I caressed you! 2

I am tired too 3

[1. Dormite Niñito, Honduras, 2. Incili Bebek Ninnisi, Turkey, 3. Up the Wooden Hill, UK]

Songs that are used to lull children to sleep often seem to serve another purpose as well: to express the worries of the singer (usually the mother). The 'recipient' of the song does not yet speak a language and is soothed by a familiar voice, rocking rhythm and melancholy melody. But meanwhile, the ‘giver’ of the song can give voice to their own doubts and troubles in the lyrics.

Night, mother is a work about the darkness found within lullabies. While photographs and videos depict a mother and daughter's merging shadows, a voice speaks and sings new - and frequently disturbing - combinations of original lullabies.

I have written an essay on this subject for Mister Motley:
De grens tussen moeder en maker is flinterdun - Over slaapliedjes als dragers van duisternis

installation/lecture-performance
projection of video and photography moving through a space & voice
size variable
2022