Nothing to see here

Synopsis

Nothing to see here opens a window to a small alternative reality. Placed in liminal public spaces, it invites casual passers-by to peer through the peepholes of a box-shaped diorama. The experience immerses you in an optical and sonic illusion. You see yourself from a bird’s-eye view, while fictional characters start to surround you. A series of strange events involving a plastic bag, a confused man, and a wolf gradually challenges our perception: What’s happening behind your back? How much of reality can we truly comprehend? It invites you to stand still for a moment in a space you would otherwise just move through, urging you to be present and truly look around you. The installation shakes and splits your perception. It places you in the middle of an alienating virtual world, while simultaneously allowing you to observe your body from a distance. Through this experience, the audience explores how what we accept as truth is not objective or fixed, but constantly shaped by our bodily relationship with it.

Statement

In New York, I became captivated by the city’s clashing realities, hearing a man preach: “You are all being lied to, but you don’t see it”. This sparked an urge. In a time of polarization and parallel truths, exploring our fluid reality feels important. I believe reality is not fixed; it is relational, born from the continuous interaction between our bodies and our surroundings. To me, Nothing to see here acts as a perception instrument. Blending a live, bird’s-eye view of your own body with fictional elements, it shatters the line between subjective experience and objective perspective. Live elements might feel fake, while the staged might start to feel real, inviting you to untangle what is true. I hope even the tiniest of characters – like a plastic bottle rolling through space – challenge you to pause and be humble: how much of reality can I truly comprehend?

Credits

Director

Celine Daeman

Production

Studio Nergens (Sophie Simenel, Carry Hendriks, Nicky Groot), Cultura Nova Festival, Muziekgebouw Productiehuis Nationale Opera & Ballet

Running Time

8'

Language

English

Country

The Netherlands

Main Cast

Fabrizio Rongione

Screenplay

Stefanie Kolk, Celine Daemen

Sound

Aurélie Nyirabikali Lierman, Wouter Snoei

Art director and lead developer

Aron Fels

Developer

Sjoerd van Acker

Designer

Floriaan Egbers

Artist

Glenn Wustlich

Technical team

Tim Senden, Jeroen de Wijs, Ed Douwes, Marco Mooren, Mees van der Wijk, Lucas Dekker, Britt Reijners, Ruben Coers, Niko Himschoot