exhibitions|

Dump Inventory

Dump Inventory
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when
March 7, 2024 - March 31, 2024
where
EXboot

In Dump Inventory, we delve into the artists’ fascination with examining video games of the past, and highlight the inheret nature of the replacibility of video games. Virtual elements like armor, trinkets, tools, and wealth, whether found or crafted, were initially designed to immerse participants in a role-playing experience where social status hinged on possessing specific valuable items. These items currently reside in a forgotten server somewhere, waiting to be played with again.

The boundary between fiction and reality becomes obscured in both the portrayal and execution of these works, highlighting the indistinct line between what is commonly perceived as real and fake. The fictional realms within games serve as mirrors to real-world systems, prompting a reevaluation of the historical elements that constitute games and offering a perspective on reconstructing our vision of a future where technology, fiction, and reality are more intricately intertwined.

I am logging on to see what would be left of all my endevors. So much of my time has been spent there. Money which has been made by real physical labor, flowed from one pocket to the other, to finally end up in a virtual vault, never to been seen again. The
cyclic evolution of titles and systems renders the past obsolete, each iteration swiftly replaced by a newer version of the same genre the following year. A continuous cycle of creation and obsolescence.

While some terminated servers find preservation through the dedicated efforts of nostalgic players, even these digital sanctuaries succumb to a gradual decline in population. What was once a vibrant and bustling world, meticulously crafted for seekers of adventure and connection, now stands as an empty husk—a tough reminder of bygone friendships. The virtual landscapes that once thrived with life and purpose now echo with a quiet emptiness, mirroring the impermanence of digital legacies. A time-consuming quest for a specific digital garment to elevate my role-playing experience and enhance my virtual status. The focal point, in the end, was a pixelated depiction of a fancy cloth.

Dump Inventory

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Current exhibition

This exhibition is closed. This is showing at EXboot now:

Foto Domas
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Jul 31

Aug 31

Waste of Time

Domas van Wijk

Waste of Time is Domas van Wijk’s first solo exhibition in Utrecht, the city where he was born and raised. The fact that it took this long might say something about his relationship with the place, and perhaps the other way around too. After graduating from the art academy in Arnhem in 2017, he moved on to other cities and countries. Two years ago, he returned to the area where it all began and now it feels like the right time to reintroduce to utrecht what was already there.

where

Nijverheidskade 15
3534AZ Utrecht

EXboot is vanwege de unieke en beperkte omvang van de cultuurhistorische locatie enkel te voet te betreden en niet rolstoeltoegankelijk. Er zijn (nog) geen voorzieningen voor slechthorenden.

Een groep jonge mannen kijkt door het raam van de EXboot naar binnen

Always at EXboot

Het zandpadmuseum

"I cherish both my present and my past. In addition to being a place for groundbreaking art, one of my rooms also houses the Zandpad Museum. Here, I share the story of my illustrious past and introduce you to people who know me well—inside and out. Take a seat on my stool, gaze out the window, and listen to the many stories surrounding my existence."

Short documentary ‘Het Zandpad’

In the 'Zandpad Museum', you can watch a short documentary about the origins of the Zandpad. The Zandpad used to be a strip of boats in the river Vecht, where sexworkers could fullfill their profession legaly. The documentary features numerous audio fragments of conversations with various people involved, including a former sex worker and former mayor Aleid Wolfsen.

This Zandpad documentary was created by Sylvie Kamphuis & Jaap Pronk (directors), Bram Engelaar (camera), Doenja Abel (production), Twan Bracco Gartner (music), and Bald Beeld (editing). Special thanks to the interviewees: Aleid Wolfsen (former mayor of Utrecht), Brenda Oude Breuil (criminologist at Utrecht University), Jannie Teunissen (De Tussenvoorziening), the former sex worker, and the former client of the Zandpad.

The documentary was made possible with support from the Municipality of Utrecht, K.F. Heinfonds, Mondriaan Fund, and RTV Utrecht.

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