Seeking connection with the earth and nature

Children of Zeus is a living exhibition and an intuitive journey. It raises questions about our relationship with nature, the body, and spirituality in today’s technological world.

The full journey consists of two chapters: Aphrodite and Ares. In both parts, the healing power of water is explored within a mythical swamp. The Children reveal their freedom, liberated from the patriarchal power of Zeus. Old ways of thinking dissolve, but not without struggle. Through their transformative powers, the Children attempt to restore balance between humans and nature. Knowledge of their ancestors returns in breath and rhythm, in the body and in water. The tension between forgotten histories and modern technology emerges throughout their mythic journey.

Dance maker Robbeduz (Robin Nimanong; they/them) and visual artist Valentina Gal (she/her) are creating an installation with water and sculptures. This living exhibition is a continuation of Valentina’s earlier exhibition Troubled Water. The collaboration Children of Zeus emerged from a shared interest in water as a symbol of transformation and healing. In this installation, they explore how we can engage with nature in more sustainable ways. During the making process, they worked with reused and natural materials. Nimanong aims to offer a tangible translation of queer ecology and re-examines experiences of diaspora and decolonisation.

Queer ecology offers an alternative way of seeing, one that allows space for change and non-fixed identities. Through this way of thinking, the artistic team reveals different forms of freedom. Maker and performer Robbeduz explores their Thai background and personal experience of diaspora, connecting this to the creative process of the installation and performance.

In Thailand and within Buddhism, the lotus symbolises purity and spiritual growth. This journey reveals all the emotions that accompany such profound transformation: from mud to the beauty of the lotus.