‘The Horrific History of Erik T.’ during Start Up: Slow Accident, Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam 2017.

The Horrific History of Erik Thorvaldsson

This work was shown at Nieuw Dakota Amsterdam (NL) during the group exhibition Start Up: Slow Accident, running from february 2017 until March 2017. The show was curated by Paul Devens. Thanks to Paul Devens, Tanja Karremans and Klaus Sentler

(2017) Sculpture (40x50x30 cm). Water, aquarium, fishermen gloves, waterproof leather book, copper.

The Horrific History of Erik Thorvaldsson details the life story of the man who discovered Greenland and the dubious way in which he founded the country. Having been banished from Iceland, Erik T. sailed northward to discover a desolate and icy landscape. Unable to deal with the loneliness he experienced there, he named this island Greenland, in an effort to fool his countrymen into sailing North with him towards what they thought was a beautifully flourishing land. Twenty-four ships sailed with him, of which only twelve reached their destination. During the exhibition, the visitors were assisted in putting on a pair of fishermen gloves and reaching for his fictional travel diary in the aquarium. Due to the high water pressure, the visitor was forced to handle the book very carefully, in the same way as one would handle an important antique object.