Tintin Wulia

With her sculptures and installations, Tintin Wulia (1972, Denpasar, Indonesia) reflects on a modern world that is increasingly globalised, but (for many) still has boundaries. Her work responds to contemporary issues such as migration and the related issues of citizenship, nationalism and identity. Chance also plays a large part in Wulia’s work, as it does in real life: no one can influence who your parents are or where you are born. Wulia often gives the public a role in the creation of her work in order to bring to our attention the relationship between citizenship, mobility, territorialism and political balances of power.

A new, large-scale version of Nous ne notons pas les fleurs (2009-2015) will be exhibited on the premises of De Meelfabriek. This interactive installation is made up of flower beds that follow the contours of the continents and at the same time allude to the global flower trade in which the Netherlands plays a key role. By moving the flowers, the public not only alters the installation; they change the world map: geography becomes dynamic. The visitor’s actions will be captured by webcams and shown on screens, so directly confronting visitors with their own intervention and that of others.

For the selection of the plants, we relied on the expertise of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden. Due to their extensive experience, they are very knowledgeable about the practical (what plants grow when and for how long, etc.) and substantive (what plants come from what continents, how to express the Netherlands’ reputation as the world’s largest exporter of flowers, etc.) sides of horticulture.

Tintin Wulia lives and works in Brisbane, Australia.