From my fascination with four-letter words, the FIVE FOUR, MORE LESS series was born in 2017. They symbolize fast, compact, efficient and standard, matching today's times. The continuation is the project HEEL KORT HEEL EVEN / CUMA KATA-KATA and puts more emphasis on the languages I grew up with. Presenting the word images of the different languages side by side can lead to new connections and insights. In doing so, the project also shows how I hold myself in the field of language and image from my life of migration and being an artist.
Here are the new series' first word images and meanings in Dutch and English.
Update: Booklaunch October 21, 2023, Huis de Pinto, Amsterdam
Update: Presentation of the series: February 1 - 4, 2024, Bouwput Gallery Amsterdam
ADUH; NL (uitroep van pijn, verbazing, teleurstelling e.d.) ach, au, ai, jee; mengaduh – kreunen, jammeren, weeklagen / EN (exclamation of pain, surprise, disappointment, etc.) ouch, augh, ee, gosh; mengaduh - moaning, lamenting, wailing
ABDI; NL 1. dienaar, ondergeschikte; 2. slaaf; abdidalem - paleisdienaar, hofambtenaar; abdinegara – overheidsdienaar, ambtenaar; mengabdi (ke)(pada) - dienen bij, in dienst zijn van, toegewijd aan. / EN 1. servant, subordinate; 2. slave; abdidalem - palace servant, court official; abdinegara - government servant, official; mengabdi (ke)(pada), serve at, be in the service of, be devoted to.
ADAT; NL 1. traditie, overlevering, adat; 2. gewoonte (recht), regel; adat-istiadat (kebiasaan) – gewoonten (en gebruiken); beradat – volgens de traditie, traditioneel / EN 1. tradition, custom, adat; 2. custom (law), rule; adat-istiadat (kebiasaan) - customs (and practices); beradat - according to tradition, traditional
ADIL; NL rechtvaardig, eerlijk, onpartijdig, billijk, rechtmatig; keadilan – rechtvaardigheid, billijkheid / EN just, fair, impartial, equitable; keadilan - justice, equity