exhibitions|

Dump Inventory

Dump Inventory
EXboot logo
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cyclic evolution of titles and systems renders the past obsolete, each iteration swiftly replaced by a newer version of the same genre the following year.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

Plan a visit

Current exhibition

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

Numerous small, colorful buttons of different sizes and shades are scattered over a light-colored, textured surface.
EXboot logo

Apr 2

Apr 26

De Unbuttoning

Judith Spil

Suddenly, something falls to the ground: what could it be? Something that was previously hidden has just become visible through the falling of a button. Judith Spil explores how vulnerability can be made visual. In this work, she uses buttons. Everyday objects often appear in her work. The falling buttons detach from the canvas and form a continuously changing landscape on the floor.The buttons are connected to a thread that is slowly being pulled, and inevitably another button will fall. This happens slowly, just like when you share vulnerable parts of your life. You reveal parts of yourself, bit by bit. It's an irreversible process: once you share something with someone, you can't go back. It might strengthen your bond, but it also feels like something is falling away. A protective layer is missing; something is now being exposed. It's a beautiful, yet painful process in which you give away a part of yourself, which could connect you with other people. You take a risk by doing this, because you never know how others will react to your fragility.

where

Nijverheidskade 15
3534AZ Utrecht

Due to the unique and limited size of the cultural-historical site, EXboot is only accessible on foot and is not wheelchair accessible. There are no facilities for the hearing impaired (yet).

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

Always at EXboot

The sand path museum

I cherish both my present and my past. Besides a space for high-profile art, one of my rooms also houses the Zandpad Museum. Here, I'll tell you about my illustrious past and introduce you to people who know me well—inside or out. Sit on my stool, gaze out the window, and listen to the many stories surrounding my life.

Short documentary 'The Sand Path'

The Zandpad Museum is screening a short documentary about the history of the Zandpad. You'll also find numerous audio clips of conversations with various people involved, including a former sex worker and former mayor Aleid Wolfsen.

This Zandpad documentary was made by Sylvie Kamphuis & Jaap Pronk (director), Bram Engelaar (camera), Doenja Abel (production), Twan Bracco Gartner (music), and Bald Beeld (editing). Thanks to the interviewees: Aleid Wolfsen (former mayor of the Municipality of Utrecht), Brenda Oude Breuil (criminologist at Utrecht University), Jannie Teunissen (De Tussenvoorziening), the former sex worker, and the former client of Zandpad. The documentary was made possible in part by the Municipality of Utrecht, KF Heinfonds, Mondriaanfonds, and RTV Utrecht.

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