BetweenTwoHands presents Mechanical Garden at CC Amstel
Mechanical Garden is an object theatre performance by the artist duo BetweenTwoHands, reflecting on our automated society. On January 31 and February 1, 2025, this performance, which combines elements of puppetry, automata, and visual art, will be shown at CC Amstel in Amsterdam.
In this visual and sometimes dreamlike performance, BetweenTwoHands reveals the workings behind the objects and installations, inviting the audience to explore them and poetically creating space for reflection on recognizable human experiences and societal themes.
To what extent does automation contribute to a healthy society?
It is increasingly clear that automation is driven by a desire for efficiency, but as machines take over more and more tasks, a sense of alienation emerges in society. Machines are so complex that it is often unclear how everything works. Rapid technological developments make our society more effective, yet they also take away much of our sensory pleasure and social interaction. The technology that provides fast and easy connections also feeds feelings of alienation and loneliness.
About BetweenTwoHands
Their maker mentality and shared interest in philosophy brought Erin Tjin A Ton (NL, 1985) and Gosia Kaczmarek (PL, 1981) together. Since 2015, they have been working as the artist duo BetweenTwoHands, creating five spatial installations at the intersection of theatre and visual art.
The works of BetweenTwoHands are meticulously crafted with a love for technique and craftsmanship, appealing to the imagination of people of all ages. During the intuitive creation process, Erin and Gosia confront the resistance of materials such as ceramics, paper, and wood. With their hands, they bring objects to life that interact with the audience.
Mechanical Garden / BetweenTwoHands at CC Amstel
Friday, January 31: 19:00, 19:30, and 22:00
Saturday, February 1: 19:00, 19:30, and 22:00
CC Amstel / Cullinanplein 1 / 1074 JN Amsterdam
Tickets €7.50 / Available at ccamstel.nl/programma/mechanical-garden
The performance is layered and suitable for all ages, with no language barriers.
Credits for Mechanical Garden
Concept, design, and performance: Erin Tjin A Ton and Gosia Kaczmarek
Assistant design: Sjors de Bruin
Soundscape: Marcel de Rooij
Final direction: Cat Smits
Lighting design: Jan Sol
Furniture: Woodworks
Trailer and recording: Sjoerd Niekamp
Photography: Gosia Kaczmarek and Chun-Han Chiang
Marketing & PR: Marieke Josselet
Design: Ekaterina Volkova
Technical advice: Performance Technology LAB, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, Gertjan Biasino, Electric Circus, Maurits Brock, and Jorg Duitsman
Mechanical Garden is made possible by: AFK, NORMA Fonds, the Cultural Fund, and the Municipality of Amsterdam.
