Ondertussen: Ana Guedes

Ondertussen
Location: Hogewal 1-9, The Hague
Open: Monday - Friday, 11-17 hrs; Saturday - Sunday, 12-17 hrs

In the presentation space of Ondertussen, The Hague based artist Ana Guedes shows elements of Untitled Records, a work in progress that interweaves historical and personal narratives based on a record collection of a Portuguese family. The expanding collection travelled over three continents and is in that sense a historical reflection of the migration route the family. The first records were purchased in Angola in the 1960s and were shipped home after war broke out in this former Portuguese colony 40 years ago. Other vinyls were subsequently purchased in Portugal and Canada up to the early 80s.

Stained by the passage of time, scratched, with their covers eaten by moths, the records are signed and dated; they exist as passive witnesses of a displacement in time and space. Each date and signature is a coordinate, a clue in the reconstruction of a map tracing complex historical occurrences splitting into an infinite number of threads.

An ensemble of modified record players is used to unlock the archive. Through the manipulation of speed, direction of rotation and the assemblage of sounds, the record players function as instruments to construct, deconstruct and rebuild the narratives hidden within the collection.

In Ondertussen, the visitor can listen to two sound compositions that were created during performative events with Untitled Records. The compositions have been pressed on vinyl and can be played back with the record players.

In 2016, Ana Guedes received a SPOT subsidy for a performative event of Untitled Records at the Playground Festival in Leuven (BE).