Cultivating Probability (#1-9) —
2015
ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof Vrancken
ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof VranckenCultivating Probability (#1-9) is a collection of 8 individual sculptures and the animation film In Our Hands that can be presented as an installation together but also can be presented individually.
Cultivating Probability (#1-9) speculates and unites attitudes and rituals from different cultures and periods of time into a kind of fictional anthropological museum display. The works are inspired by research into the way how people, in different times and cultures, try to predict and influence decision making processes and the future paths of specific situations.
Conductor (I,II,III) are three full copper sculptures part of the project Cultivating Probability. They are bend in different shapes reminiscent of divination devices or scientific instruments, but suggest an other than human use since they are too large and heavy to handle. Materials: 2 cm diameter full copper industrial rods, various sizes, Installation at Global Imaginations, Leiden, NL (2015)
Some of the sculptures made in this project are interpretations of ceremonial objects found in the collections of The National Museum of World Cultures in the Netherlands, that were made to predict – or ward off – the future. Others are influenced by historical as well as contemporary objects, rituals or technologies that are used to predict or influence the future around the world.
Signal Traces, close up of the installation
Predictive Modelling, close up of the installation at Club Solo, 2020 Photo: Peter Cox
The installation consists of a double sided film projection with audio and a collection of diverse sculptures, which are spread throughout the exhibition space where some are susceptible to change and movement. The accompanying sound composition is made with different 18 computer generated binaural tones influencing brainwaves.
Black Hole Liquidities, installation at Artefact, Leuven, BE (2017)
Commissioned by: Global Imaginations, Museum de Lakenhal, University of Leiden and the Museum of World Cultures, Leiden, NL
Materials used in the collection of works: Wood / Synthetic motor grease / burned wood / Ink / handmade unbaked clay objects / metal binary tokens (approx. 2500 in total); metal dish / oil / ink / robotics / full copper; burned yellow sand / tin.
Duration In Our Hands: 9:20 min.
Duration Sound composition: 17:40 min.
In Our Hands (sample of 1:40 min.)
(low res. / 18 mb.)
"Divination and magic are the two structuring motifs of Cultivating Probability. Foretelling the future is an act of magic yet magic is not always about predictions. Whereas in antiquity prophecy was a divine ‘gift’, in modernity the future is ‘calculated’. Hence, the regulative polarity that Marjolijn Dijkman’s installation exploits as film, sculpture and sound: the indeterminacy of the magical event vs. the determinacy of reason that calculates and predicts. ... The fine exploitation of the border between determinacy and indeterminacy turns the installation into an opportunity to reflect on a relevant cultural problem, namely the different ways in which one can understand enchantment. On the one hand, there is the ‘primitive’ enchantment with magic as an unexpected happening or as the realisation of a premonition. On the other hand, there is the modern regime of magic as enchanting entertainment and persuasive seduction; the media is full of ‘unexpected’ encounters that fascinate – fascinum as phallic evil spell – and entertain, like magicians and bewitching spectacles." - from: 'Decommissioned Truths Marjolijn Dijkman’s Cultivating Probability' by Vlad Ionescu, 2017
Installation at ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof Vrancken
Crude Oil Futures is a kinetic sculpture part of the larger installation Cultivating Probability. A large black metal dish makes short randomised movements. The black oil inside the dish is creating constantly changing mesmerising patterns and reflections. ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof Vrancken. Materials: pedestal, black painted metal dish, mechanics, black oil. Size: diameter of dish is 120 cm. by approx 25 cm. high.
Signal Traces is a sand sculpture part of the project Cultivating Probability. It relates to different forms of sand and tin divination and the materials used in the production of printed circuit boards. The tin is melted into the sand, the yellow sand is burned on the surface. Materials: sand, burned sand, tin. Various Sizes.
ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof Vrancken
Black Hole Liquidity is a sculpture that is part of the project Cultivating Probability. A dark varnished wooden sculpture in the shape of a black hole, is rolled in the exhibition space. The movement creates a drawing on the floor with mechanical oil grease from the sculpture. Black Hole Liquidity relates to different forms of divination where an object is manually moved to create a answer for a specific question relating to a specific situation in the future. Installation at Greylight Projects, Brussels, BE (2015)
Cultivating Probability (#1-9), installation at ARTEFACT 2017, The Act of Magic, Leuven, BE (14 x 8,4 x 3 m.) Photo: Kristof Vrancken
