disappear – Kenza Koutchoukali, Tessa Douwstra (LUWTEN) & Marlou Breuls

Grief is a strange state of being. Grief alienates and makes us lonely. We avoid the subject, and even people who are grieving, for fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. The emptiness that loss brings, the emptiness that someone carries within them, is infinitely palpable, but cannot be seen, heard or felt on the outside. In the installation disappear, director Kenza Koutchoukali, musician Tessa Douwstra and designer Marlou Breuls attempt to make that emptiness visible, tangible and audible. The installation can be seen throughout the festival and will be opened this evening with three performances by Tessa Douwstra.

Kenza Koutchoukali is a Dutch director who creates new opera and contemporary music theatre. In her work, Kenza strives to find the metaphysical dimensions of reality. Tessa Douwstra has been making adventurous pop music since 2017 under the name LUWTEN, in which she constantly lets her curiosity and spontaneity take the lead. She combines influences from minimal music, experimental R&B and folktronica. Marlou Breuls is considered a pioneer in the Dutch design landscape and distinguishes herself as a visionary designer and conceptual artist. As the founder of the multidisciplinary studio House of Rubber, she shows a deep dedication to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.

PAY ATTENTION: This performance has a limited capacity of only 40 visitors. There are three performances: at 18:30, 19:30 and 20:30.

Tessa Douwstra’s composition is a commission of Gaudeamus Festival and made possible by financial support from the Performing Arts Fund.