Becoming Part of the Harbour
Is there a place that could have preserved fragments of the city throughout its history?
For example, ‘under the harbour’ could consist not only of water but also of everything that has existed at Oosterdok and been decomposed up to this very moment, such as construction materials, ships from the Dutch East Indies and spices, the sweat of workers, fish, possibly some bicycles, and living drainage, among other things. Even now, new elements are being decomposed and combined with the existing environment, which in turn ultimately becomes part of the harbour.
July 11th & 18th-20th
The origins of the project
Becoming a Part of the Harbour originated from Mariko Hori’s 2021 project Under the Harbour, which explored the idea of creating a setting where the experience of smelling the underwater world could be shared with others, right at the place where the scent originates.
Under the harbor may serve as an archive of everything from ancient times to today. It brings forth certain scents, feelings, or textures that can mix with our imaginations and memories as integral parts of history.
This ‘mixture of history in Oosterdok’ evolves daily, depending on the season, weather, and time. Even the presence of the audience contributes to this process: as they come close to the water, parts of their decomposed bodies flake into it, becoming part of the harbor and its history in the future.
Through this project, participants will experience the harbor in a unique, sensory-driven manner, emphasizing how their physical presence connects them to this ever-changing archive, making them part of its future history.
All rights reserved With: Mariko Hori
What you will do
Becoming a Part of the Harbour invites participants to experience the harbour in a unique, sensory way, emphasizing how their physical presence connects them to this ever-changing archive, making them part of its future history.
This participatory performance will start with an introduction by Mariko Hori, who will share the origins and intentions behind the project.
As a participant, you will explore the layered character of the harbour through your senses, floating on the water, observing, listening, touching, and smelling.
During the session, you’ll engage in simple, symbolic gestures to connect with the harbour’s ecosystem. One of these includes gently scrubbing your body in the water, releasing fragments of yourself, that will, over time, become part of the harbour’s future.
At the end of the full series of sessions, a caption will be created, listing the names of all participants as elemental components of the harbour’s water.
Mariko Hori
Mariko Hori is an multidisciplinary artist creating quiet, site-sensitive installations that bridge nature and society. Her work explores the hidden existence of space - where scent, memory, and material trace the stories that lie beneath. Drawing on her background in architecture, she works with overlooked materials and ephemeral elements, inviting reflection on what it means to share space across time and species. Enlarge
Participatory Performance "Becoming Part of the Harbour" with Mariko Hori, July 2025 -
Tickets
Full price €20 | Discount price €15
We give a discount to students, Stadspas and artists. If this applies to you we might ask to see your kvk nr/portfolio or student card for this option.
Information
July 11th - July 18th - July 19th - July 20th
Attendance is limited to 14 people. We maintain a minimum of 5 participants.
Please note that this workshop will be held in English.
Safety Measures:
- You must be able to swim to join this workshop.
- Safe entry and exit facilitated by a rope, ladder, or boat access.
- Safety personnel present during sessions.
- Clear instructions and guidelines provided to participants beforehand.
Equipment:
・Water goggles and gloves provided by Mediamatic.
・As a participant, we kindly ask you to bring your own swimsuits, towels, and sandals.
For questions, please send an email to workshop@mediamatic.nl.
