Focus Piece

Loom: Reflecting

The past year Subbacultcha and We Are Public presented Loom: a recurring (on- and offline) program that weaves together theatre, performance art, music, talks, and DJ sets. In 2024, Loom housed 5 events, coinciding with talks, releases and a publication, wrapping it up with a final fest at the beginning of 2025.

“Ginning, opening, cleaning, combing, drawing, spinning, winding, warping, sizing and beaming.”

It was a compelling year, inviting a myriad of local experimental dancers, musicians, theatre- and sound-makers. We Are Public and Subbacultcha asked both their communities to come together to experience these artistic journeys collectively. This evoked surprised and engaged audiences leading to unexpected conversations with strangers, including laughs, as well as cries.

Looking back at Loom Fest

On Saturday February 15th, we started the night with a beautiful talk about belonging in practice with Ji, Arno and Yav, moderated by Jamil Fiorini-Habib. Courtney kicked off the performance program with a body-double. bela’s internal screams and cries, illuminated our own insides which O S C A R emerged from. In the big hall Ji constructed a bass-heavy piece through a technical intervention with a xylophone, of which we could come down from at Aimée’s hypnotizing cosmos. Klein performed a hybrid DJ/live-set that was out of this world, stepping up the redefining clubmusic in this city. YAV closed off the night with an intricate performance, pushing the limits of the body and its voice.

Upon entrance, all visitors got a glistening publication designed by Alex Walker made possible by Drukkerij Raddraaier. Throughout the night, people enjoyed hearty food organized by De Sering’s People Kitchen and a natural wine bar installed in De Sloot, where people from the audience took over the aux. After the festival, Dusty Cabinets took the mic and hosted an afterparty with the freakiest beats and dubs selected by Soumaya Phéline and General K on the powerful Krackfree Soundsystem.

It was a special evening we will never forget. We want to thank all the organizations, artists, AFK & Fonds21 and a phenomenal audience for supporting this project.

Below some highlights of the performances and audience…

Courtney May Robertson by Yasemin Demirozcan

bela by Yasemin Demirozcan

O S C A R – Arno Schuitemaker by Yasemin Demirozcan

Aimée Theriot by Yasemin Demirozcan

Ji Youn Kang by Yasemin Demirozcan

YAV by Aria Ruffini

The audience at Klein, who will remain a mystery… by Yasemin Demirozcan

Loom Talks Archive

Below you can listen back to the talks (those that were recorded) preceding each Loom event.

This year would have not been possible without all these courageous artists being vulnerable on stage, to produce ever-developing forms of art. Below, once more highlighted, all the participating artists in order of every single artwork, event and release:

Bin Koh, Frö/Moa Holgersson & S*an D. Henry-Smith, Simomo Bouj, baby ganoush, Yunie Chae, Elioa Steffen & M. Maria Walhout & Alex Blum, Odete, Pebblle, Basia Streźek & Catherine Hu, Flavia Pinheiro, Lyckle de Jong & Giacomo Speyart, Zeta Lys, Geke Zaal, Boris de Klerk, Tjobo Koh, Görkem Arıkan, Elina Tapio, Cleo Tsw, Yessica Deira/Soft Break, Roshanak Morrowatian & Mami Izumi, Omarleen, Ji Youn Kang, bela, Arno Schuitemaker, Aimee Theriot, Klein and Courtney May Robertson.

Thank you to all people involved with the cultural organizations and venues that helped us realize every event and talk: Radio TNP, OT301, Vondelkerk, ‘t Zonnehuis, Dokzaal, Jungle, De Sloot and De Sering.

And to our moderators, sound technicians, photographers, designers and organizers: Jamil Fiorini-Habib, Milla van der Graaf, Stan Wiersma, Pablo Sanchez, Sam Morsink, Joris van den Einden, Nell Schwan, Roman Zotter, Yasemin Demirozcan, Aria Ruffini, Alex Walker, Deniz Hakman, Gabriella Meshako, Sydney van Nieuwaal, Alma Noor, Anni Nöps, Daniël Kieft, Lotte Stig, Myrthe Vis, Leon Caren, Bas Morsch and Sanae Oujjit.

This project would have not been possible without Fonds21 and AFK, thank you for funding this project.