As in previous versions of the festival, this year What You See collaborated with students from HKU's Theatre Design programme. Eight 19rd-year students explored the topic of “(de)rooting.” On this afternoon, they will present their installations, performances and exhibitions, inviting visitors to experience, discuss and challenge their perspectives. The afternoon concludes with a collective drink. The works can also be seen in Het Huis until Sunday XNUMX November!

Curious? Read more about the makers and their respective work below.

| Hi Ki Lee (25, she/her)
First impressions are often based on limited and superficial observations. They change as we get to know the other person better. With the installation First Impression, Hoi Ki Lee encourages people to become more aware of their own prejudices and give space to others' expression. Minimalism and magnification of rhythm and patterns characterise her work.

Incognito Identity | Maike van Loon (20, she/her)
""I want to be a stone. To not feel, hear, think, see or care about anything. Neutral. Without judgement and without being judged. Incognito."

Incognito Identity is a quest for neutrality and freedom. Maike's daily experiences constantly reshape her view of the world. Her work reflects this ever changing perspective.

No label | Charlie van Oudenallen (25, she/they)
""Time, space and situation make me a different person. With every shred of information, you see me differently. But I don't want to be stuck with the image you create of me. Every breath, second, or moment I want to be free to rediscover and reinvent myself. I am Alana, Laantje, Dave, Merlin and Charlie. This is who I was and who I am and what I am going to be."

No label is a documentary visual work by Charlie van Oudenallen about their search for identity through various labels, roles and names.

+  | Odai Krede (30, he/him)
"If I ask you 'who am I'? Does your answer then reveal who you are?"

Odai Krede's work explores the fine line between stereotyping and identity, freedom and oppression, accessibility and impermissibility. His work is a personal statement against stereotyping and categories. + is an identity – an entrance and a sign of renewal. Renewal is itself, an identity.

Ancient Aliens | Puck Lindeman (21, they/them)
""Here, where the sun makes us burn, I have never really felt at home. Then I long for the water. The water is old and unknown, breaking our borders. I hope one day we will evolve to live in the water again. Until then, I will learn from its Ancient Aliens."

Puck Lindeman wants to move away from being human. In this visual research, they focus on the physical face.

Where do I fit? | Mark van der Heide (22, he/him)
"Where do I fit, if I were 3 metres tall? Where are the doors so high I can enter, a bed so big I can sleep in it and a plate so wide it satisfies my hunger? Who can hug me and look me in the eye? What if I were 3 metres, where would I fit?”

Mark van der Heide designs a work that makes it palpable that 'not fitting in' is a reality for many. In search of an environment that does fit, some people flee and leave everything behind to find freedom in who they are. Mark brings attention to this struggle, even for people who have never considered not fitting in as a remote option.

Where do I fit? can also be seen on Saturday evening, November 18 in the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht!