The World After: Conversation Pieces

What will the post-Covid-19 world look like? What challenges and possibilities will it face? What opportunities will arise? In March 2020, the world came to a grinding halt. The Oude Kerk, too, suddenly had to close its doors. Because we wanted to continue to invest time and space in commissioned works of art, the Oude Kerk together with online art magazine Mister Motley invited 16 artists to respond to questions raised by the Covid-19 crisis. Their contributions, in the form of short films, were shared online. That autumn, they were on show in the Oude Kerk as well. They are not presented as works of art in a traditional exhibition, but as the components of a long-term conversation between the Oude Kerk, its visitors, the artists and the rest of society. The contributions clearly radiate the combination of uncertainty and optimism that characterized the lockdown period. Together, the videos painted a telling picture of the unusual spring of 2020, and the world thereafter.

'The World After: Conversation Pieces' also included an extensive public programme with room for reflection. During performances, artist talks, a reading club, concerts, and an auction, we discussed a shared challenge: the future.

Through an open call, the local artist community Open Ateliers Nieuwmarkt was also invited to create work that responded to 'The World After'. These contributions were added to the exhibition at the Oude Kerk in early December 2021.