Zefir7: New Signatures 2024

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When: Tuesday 17 September 2024
Location: Stroom Den Haag, Hogewal 1-9, The Hague
Time: 20:00 hrs, doors open from 19:30 hrs
Entry: free

Zefir7 is the monthly designers cafe i.s.m. BNO. Every year Zefir7 gives stage to the most talented graduate students to present their work. This year we are happy to present: 

Stefania Bodnia 
Sophie Buizert 
Emma Fijma
Julie Goslinga 
Patricia Lupascu 
Wouter Oomen 
Anas Qadami 
Elsa Veldhuysen 

Stefaniia Bodnia: Coal Mine, Land Mine and the body of mine, Bachelor Graphic Design, KABK
The multi faceted project provides insight into the post-industrial landscape of war-affected eastern Ukraine and illuminates the voices of the materials extracted from this region: coal, salt, gas, neon, and the human body. The story unfolds in several chapters, each dedicated to narration about a particular material. It traces the chain of extraction, starting with coal mining in the region, followed by black metallurgy, and with the production of neon as a by-product of the iron and steel industry.

Sophie Buizert: Looking for (bio)diversity, Bachelor Graphic Design (WDKA)
Looking for (bio)diversity delves into the fascinating world of city birds in the Netherlands, focusing on their unique behaviors and often overlooked queer aspects. By highlighting bird sexuality, family structures, gender roles, and reproduction, it challenges traditional perspectives and expands our understanding of nature’s diversity. The guide encourages readers to observe these birds in urban environments, using a complementary workbook with exercises to enhance observational skills and creativity. Embracing queer ecology, it underscores the interconnectedness of all beings and offers insights into the complexities of nature, inviting readers to enjoy the vibrant lives of city birds.

Emma Fijma: How to become a blade of grass, Bachelor Graphic Design (HKU)
How to Become a Blade of Grass is a thought-provoking video instal- lation that critiques our society’s relentless pursuit of success and materialism, urging a return to the present moment and a simpler existence. The artist, driven by a passion for storytelling and a holis- tic worldview, uses their art to navigate life’s complexities and share diverse perspectives. They aspire to live a fulfilling life of experiences and creativity, aiming to connect people and contribute positively to a fairer world.

Julie Goslinga, Understanding Other(s), Bachelor Interactive Media Design 
Understanding Other(s) is a video installation by Julie Goslinga that explores the concept of ‘otherness’ through characters that defy societal norms. These ‘Others’ challenge conventional views on identity and presentation, seeking respect and understanding rather than empathy. The work combines complex metaphors with humor and self-criticism, highlighting the political tension surrounding otherness. Ultimately, it invites viewers to reconsider their judgments and view the strange with curiosity.

Patricia Lupascu: My Casa Mare, or The Big House, Bachelor Product Design (ArtEZ)
She found a new method to mould clay in woven moulds and used that to make experimental 3D objects that express her Moldovan heritage. Casa Mare is a special festive decorative room that serves to express a family’s wealth and interest in craftsmanship. Patricia used her newly developed method to recreate that atmosphere with various strangely beautiful objects. In her own words: 'Drawing inspiration from familiar elements such as wall carpets, I created a collection that pays homage to Casa Mare’s aesthetics while infusing it with my unique perspective.' 

Wouter Oomen: Generated.Earth, Bachelor Advertising & Beyond (WDKA)
Generated.Earth — An Expedition Through the Inner World Model of AI invites you to understand AI’s perception of the world. As generative AI tools increasingly dominate media, it’s crucial to grasp their abstract world models, built from vast datasets but not truly representative of the physical world. This expedition, through an AI-generated map of real continents, explores European data oceans, African data deserts, and various cultural and natural landmarks. Each stop provides insights into the formation and function of AI’s world models, preparing you for the future of AI-dominated media.

Anas Qadamani: The Elephant & The Room, Bachelor Audiovisual Design (WDKA)
In the midst of Europe’s migration crisis, a strange and unexpected migration wave brings Western European values and policies into question. This film dives into the historical context and present pol- icies, uncovering the fragile stance of Western European systems in the global humanitarian discourse.

Elsa Veldhuijsen: Nieuwe Nederlandse Schrift, Bachelor Graphic Design (WDKA)
Nieuwe Nederlandse Schrift is a speculative phonemic script designed to replace the Latin script used in the Dutch language. It features a larger set of characters, each representing specific sounds, allowing words to be pronounced as they are read and written as they are pronounced. Inspired by Hangul, the shapes of consonants reflect mouth positions, aiding pronunciation. The script arranges syllables into squares, read from left to right and top to bottom, while retaining the punctuation marks of the Latin script.