Basje Poorter

"Living in 7.26 m². In that space, I have a bed, a sofa and a kitchen. Living in a camper van leaves little room for luxury, and although that seemed like a drawback at first, I’m increasingly seeing the benefits of it.

We all want a home of our own, with our own belongings, and preferably in a way that minimises interaction with others. Surely you’d rather live in a detached house than in a flat? In any case, a place with a thermostat, electricity and running water – things we take for granted by our Western standards. All this creates a sort of hermetically sealed cocoon in which you can completely shield yourself from everything happening outside. By building that cocoon, we lose our connection with the outside world.

Luxury and comfort are intertwined with overconsumption and capitalism. By living in a van, I have realised that much luxury and comfort is superfluous and that a certain degree of discomfort might actually yield more.

This visual work explores discomfort and translates it into a video installation. Filmed by the sea, a place that holds many meanings, including freedom. Moving along the coastline on the wheels implies an endless road.
The title suggests a smooth progression; the action reveals the opposite and brings both physical and mental discomfort.
Luxury and comfort make us unconsciously dependent, whilst discomfort brings unexpected freedom and connection.

Emerging from various perspectives, the work contains underlying themes such as a critique of the housing market, capitalism and connection."