©Sander van Wettum

This exhibition design creates a series of architectural elements inspired by photographer Sander van Wettum's images of desolate holiday destinations during the off-season. The installation transforms the space into distinct zones that evoke familiar vacation environments: a shaded terrace, a swimming pool.

From the outside, a palm tree and the candy-colored elements create the illusion of sun-drenched summer resorts, drawing visitors in. Once inside, visitors encounter van Wettum's alienating photographs that make them realise: something is missing. Without the usual tourists, these spaces lose their clear function, transforming desolate landscapes into sculptural scenes. The pictures invites reflection on dreams and desires, but also on the impact of mass tourism.

The spatial design plays with expectations and perception, merging the existing architectural elements of the space with the inserted references to leisure architecture. Strolling through the exhibition, visitors can experience the surreal quality of these holiday destinations without tourists.

Pictures and selection  Sander van Wettum

Production  Ulli Baisch and Jurgen van der Vlies

Special thanks to  OMI (Pieter Kuster and Emine Yilmazgil), Eva Lotte Lisander, and Michael Tjia