Oantinken: Capturing Memories in a Jar

Description:

Oantinken is an extraordinary interactive installation that breathes life into the art of memory preservation. Conceived in collaboration with Tryater and inspired by the creative minds at the Utrecht School for the Arts, this project made its remarkable debut at the Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival in 2013.

Oantinken ingeniously combines the modern convenience of mobile technology with the timeless charm of glass jars, known as 'Weck' jars, 'Kilner jars' in the UK, and 'Mason jars' in the US. The project comprises two distinct elements: a user-friendly mobile app and a colossal wall adorned with these iconic vessels, where precious moments can be forever preserved.

The mobile app invites users to capture specific moments, transforming them into snapshots that are then placed in this unique, communal archive. This creates a captivating resonance—a collective recollection of the event—though it may not always offer a perfectly balanced memory. The collective's manipulation sparks intriguing questions: Can this altered image provide insight into what genuinely transpired? Is the collective memory more reliable than our individual recollections?

Festivals and Events:

• Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival 2013

  • Dates: August 15th to 25th
  • Location: Groningen

• Heimwee naar Hurdegaryp 2014

  • Dates: January 21st to February 1st
  • Location: Leeuwarden

Credits:

• Conceptualized by Niels Dielen, Jelle van Doorne, Anca Siegersma, and Mick Vonk.
• Project Leadership: Rodrik Biersteker
• Software Development: Roderick Gadellaa, Aldo Hoeben, and Arnaud Loonstra
• Sound Design: Mark IJzerman
• Support: Ferdy Guliker and Machiel Veltkamp
• Design: Wijnand Veneberg