The Over and Under

The Over and Under | video work | 11 min | Art Rotterdam | Prospects and Concepts | Rotterdam | 2025

The story is divided into two parts: the Over (the surface) and the Under (what is hidden beneath). The main character who seems to have gotten lost in a dune-like area and is handed a mysterious map to find their way back. The scene appears playful, but as the story progresses and the way out seems to have gotten closer, the fear arises that the main character is actually trapped in a loop. This sinking, claustrophobic feeling is further emphasized by the abandoned landscape, which gives the impression that this story is an continuous, endless dream one cannot wake up from. A vicious circle, symbolically redirecting itself into a hole dug by the main character where they encounter nothing else but their own reflection. Ultimately, it raises the question: : Can you escape yourself?

Credits:

Direction, script, montage and props: Monika Nowak. Cinematography and color correction: Rollo van Wijk. Featuring: Bjørk Semey. Sound: Jasper Schonewille & Bjørk Semey. Photography: Anna Lenartowska.

Assistants: Wojciech Stachura, Robin Valster, Stan Molenaar and Zahra Mosheni.