Synopsis
In 2012 a Chinese businessman bought a dilapidated house in South London unseen in auction. The house in Brixton has a ‘blue plaque’ as one of the most famous artists in history, Vincent van Gogh lodged here for a year in 1873.
Olde Wolbers was fascinated by this idolatry action and the way ‘blue plaques’ anthropomorphize bricks into unreliable biographers of historic figures.
In her latest film Yes These Eyes are the Windows, a fictional narrative unfolds following the mythologizing of van Gogh and the increasingly strong grip that his ghostly presence took on the destiny of the humble house and its owners.
The film’s voice over is told through the point of view of the house itself and is filmed in both the decaying building and in model sets that the artist created in her studio. ‘Saskia Olde Wolbers’ visual creations, with their aqueous consistency and feverish atmosphere, weave themselves into a speculative documentary composition.’ (Bice Curager)
In 2014 the house was host to Olde Wolbers’ site-specific collaborative sound installation commissioned by Artangel.