The Fish Pond Song – a video work by Jeroen Kooijmans at the Stedelijk Museum ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands – guides visitors through an imaginary world of war, propelled by narratives of fear, dreams and lust. Exhibited in its entirety for the first time, the more than 700-sq-m installation unfolds over three chapters, communicating war as an abstract reality – a lurking evil and psychological madness.

Kooijmans has been known to reference the often religious-themed work of medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. The Fish Pond Song is no exception; here, the artist draws on The Garden of Earthly Delights. Kooijmans’ work deals with the topic of faith in relation to the 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers. He tackles such themes as fanaticism, mania and war.

Video projections featured in the spatial installation appear on simple archetypal structures and their surrounding walls – not unlike the set for a contemporary theatre performance. Compared with the voyeuristic distance often offered in a playhouse, The Fish Pond Song allows visitors to immerse themselves fully in the projected landscapes and to more actively engage in their thought-provoking content. The Fish Pond Song is on show at Stedelijk Museum ’s-Hertogenbosch until 5 June 2016.

Photography by Raimond Wouda

http://www.frameweb.com/news/jeroen-kooijmans-immersive-installation-addresses-fanaticism-mania-and-war