Perfect Day
Perfect Day is a commission by the Rijksmuseum as part of Document Netherlands. The subject: tourism.
I had never been on a cruise. It had never even crossed my mind. When the Rijksmuseum approached me with the theme of tourism, I knew I was looking for a place rather than a person, a place where I could stay for several days and keep returning to the same people. That place became a cruise ship, a world built entirely for tourism, sailing past the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curaçao.
A cruise ship is a world of its own. Everything is arranged, everything is comfortable, everything is taken care of. And yet it scrapes against something, the climate, the coastlines, the question of whether this kind of travel still belongs in this time.
Through five themes, I explore that world.
Landscape / Seascape
The enormous vessel is ever-present on the horizon, disrupting her surroundings. With smoke erupting from the funnel, one might ask what are the impact of these cruises.
Perfect Day
Everyday is the perfect day on a cruise. Everything is planned to perfection because time is especially precious – finding the right restaurant, choosing an ice cream flavour or deciding on an unforgettable experience
Blue Towel
The blue towel is an essential accessory and a ubiquitous presence on a cruise. For me these towels represent safety, security and comfort. They allow the guests to feel part of a community and provide a sense of solidarity and belonging.
Crew
The perfect holiday is made possible by the crew. They cater to every need and whim of the guests. However, these 1200 individuals largely remain invisible to most of the guests during their stay. The anonymity of the staff members is visualised in the series.
Economical Impact
The dependence and impact of tourism on the destination countries cannot be underestimated and must not be forgotten.
For many people, their livelihood depends on tourism.
