Top of this document
Go directly to navigation
Go directly to page content

Exhibition: Amsterdam, Mediamatic Post CS

Gastarbeider Dating

Curated by Irina Birger and Katja Sokolova

Looking for a new friendship, cultural dipping or creative impulse? Curious about other people and cultures? Then Gastarbeider (Immigrant) Dating was something for you! From January 27th to the 16th of March 2008, 10 artists from 7 different countries landed in the Mediamatic exhibition space. Each artist stayed for one week and also brought some friends with them!

Everyone was welcome between Wednesday to Sunday from 16.00 - 20.00 hrs. Our daily programme included the photobooth, the friend drink station and loads of other events!

Gastarbeider Dating was an exhibition series about identity, feeling at home, being foreign and meeting each other.

with:
Meet the Gastarbeiders

Aimee Zito Lema showed that Argentina is not only steak and tango, but also literature and film. Kyoko Inatome and Emiko Chujo introduced the culture of making Japanese mochi in the Netherlands. Zhana Ivanova made a remake of a Bulgarian comedy film from the 70s, with Mediamatic visitors as actors.

Irina Birger Dating PosterIrina Birger Dating Poster

Gil&Moti had conversations with Arabic waiters in a kibbutz kitchen. Brian McKenna searched for fellow Canadians in Amsterdam using a microphone and a radio transmitter. Sara Rajaei demonstrated the difference between Iranians and Arabs. And lastly Irina Birger and Katja Sokolova taught Dutch men how to date the Russian way. They were also the curators of this exhibition.

Aimee Zito Lema Dating PosterAimee Zito Lema Dating Poster

The programme
week 5: 30.01 - 03.02 Irina Birger (Rusland, 1972) en Katja Sokolova (Rusland, 1977)
week 6: 06.02 - 10.02 Aimee Zito Lema (Argentinië, 1982)
week 7: 13.02 - 17.02 Kyoko Inatome (Japan, 1973) en Emiko Chujo (Japan, 1973)
week 8: 20.02 - 24.02 Zhana Ivanova (Bulgarije, 1977)

Emiko Chujo Gastarbeider Dating PosterEmiko Chujo Gastarbeider Dating Poster

week 9: 27.02 - 02.03 Gil & Moti (Israel 1968 en 1971)
week 10: 05.03 - 09.03 Brian McKenna (Canada, 1975)
week 11: 12.03 - 16.03 Sara Rajaei (Iran, 1976)