Breaking Waves

Film and exhibition

Clara Jo examines the myths and political complications surrounding the spread of disease in the Afrasian Sea (Indian Ocean). These are often told in ways that protect an imperialist narrative. She studies the historical erasure of collective memory during quarantine conditions. She emphasizes the consequences for the environment. She investigates how dominant narratives emerge and influence the collective imagination in times of crisis.

Part of Breaking Waves is the fictional documentary Nests of Basalt, Nests of Wood. By combining animation with filmed footage, the work highlights the damage done to the island landscape. The film is told from the point of view of the Paille-en-queue bird. Inheriting its history through oral histories from its ancestors, it draws attention to colonial history and forced translocation across the Afrasian Sea.

The exhibition marks the Dutch premiere of the film Nests of Basalt, Nests of Wood. In addition to the film, the KITLV archive features the first public presentation of new work produced during Clara Jo's research.