Terra Incognita
2017
17m17s

On June 27, 1598, four Dutch ships named The Love, The Hope, The Belief and The Trust set sail for Japan as their final destination. Belief turned back home, Hope drowned, Trust was murdered and Love made it to shore. Why did only love survive the terrible journey despite having all odds against it? A hopeless romantic might say that life can only continue through love. From that point of view, this short film was created in Ukiha, Japan, during a three month Mondriaan Fonds artist residency.

Take roses for example. Where I come from, they hardly bloom in November, but I imagine a place that can only be found with a pirate’s map, an invisible land where pink roses fight against all odds to bloom freely, untouched by time and space, and where their scent fills the air and every house as the wind passes through. In Where the Pink Roses Bloom Even in November, there is a quest to reach that imagined place. Along the way, one must overcome obstacles, move through shifting timelines, and encounter strange, unnameable figures and dimly lit alleyways. Letting go of fear becomes essential to continue the journey.

Scientifically speaking, when in love, a small region of the brain called the amygdala becomes deactivated. It is the part that controls fear and helps humans stay safe in dangerous situations. When it quiets down, fear subsides, and we find the courage to move forward toward the place where love has always and will always survive against all odds.