STAND-BY OFFICE

Stand-by Office, 13’20’’, video, 2017.
English ST FR, 16/9 / 5.1 / DCP & HD files
in collaboration with We Are Here* group.
with the support of: Le Fresnoy, Culture Resource’s Production Awards Program, CBK Zuidoost, Cinelabs Romania, Studio aux cuves dorées.

We are introduced to a group of people within an office environment. Everyday work gestures are observed throughout the building. Nothing seems out of place. As the camera leas us steadily through the rooms our perception of this particular space gradually changes. We are left wondering: what does this office mean to this group of people?

*We Are Here is a group of refugees in Amsterdam that does not get any housing provided by the government but also is not allowed to work and therefore should live on the street. The group decided to make the inhumane situation that they have to live in visible, by no longer hiding, but showing the situation of refugees that are out of procedure in The Netherlands.

(FR)
Un groupe de personnes dans un environnement de bureau. Des gestes quotidiens de travail sont observés dans tout le bâtiment. Rien ne semble être déplacé. La caméra circule continuellement et change progressivement notre perception de cet espace. On se pose la question: qu’est ce que signifie ce bureau pour ce groupe de personnes?

*We Are Here est un groupe de réfugiés à Amsterdam qui ne reçoit aucun logement fourni par le gouvernement, mais ne peut pas non plus travailler. Le groupe a décidé de rendre visible la situation inhumaine qu’ils doivent vivre, en ne se cachant plus, mais en montrant la situation des réfugiés qui sont «en dehors de la loi» aux Pays-Bas.