The Neighbor’s house

You are in Predikherenstraat. You are a person sitting in a café.

One month ago, I was walking in this street, and I saw the reflection of a house at the opposite window. The window was a showcase full of old toys—mostly old metallic cars in different sizes and colors. It was a small world full of small vehicles. And suddenly I had this crazy idea… To replicate this house, create a miniature and place it behind the window. The house I am talking about is the white symmetrical house at the number 27. I did replicate it! Both inside and outside.

But careful; this is not the story of the white house!

Of course, you don’t know all this… You are just a person sitting in a cafe. You just ordered from the waitress, and you enjoy a nice day in this quiet neighborhood. You haven’t even noticed the white house, even if its stands out from the rest in the street. And, of course, you know nothing about the miniature I created, even if it is only a few meters ahead. You will finish your coffee, leave for home and you will never learn about this.

Now please stand up. Leave your chair and table and take one step away from them. Now, get ready to walk fast towards Predikherrestraat.

You are a passerby.

You are me!

You are someone living in the neighborhood or passing by this street every day.

You are a spectator who came to see this project.

Now you are the resident of the white house.

In this performance installation, the spectator was asked through audio to shift perspectives and look at the same thing, “The neighbor’s house,” from different roles and points of view.

He had to walk fast and ignore it. To pause and observe it. To stand behind it and inhabit it.

How many different perspectives and realities exist? In how many different ways can we experience something?