Elsemarijn Bruys & Loma Doom at NEST, The Hague

Artists: Elsemarijn Bruys, Loma Doom

Exhibition title: Open Field

Venue: NEST, The Hague, The Netherlands

Date: October 18 – November 16, 2024

Photography: all images courtesy by the artists and Nest. Photos 1 – 9, 13 – 17 by Joris van den Einden. Photos 10 – 12 by Kyle Tryhorn. Photos 19, 25 – 29 by GoedFolk. Photos 18, 20 – 24 – by Zoë Hollander

In their exhibition Open Field, artists Elsemarijn Bruys and Loma Doom (the stage name of Femke Dekker) pay tribute to female pioneers in electronic music. The title alludes to a sound exercise by Pauline Oliveros, where each perception—be it a sight, sound, or movement—is experienced as an ‘artistic experience’ shared with others. In their collaborative work, Bruys’ kinetic practice merges with Loma Doom’s listening practice, creating a new landscape where you are invited to listen in a shared experience.

The exhibition features two big mirrors rotating on their own axes, reflecting both yourself and the architecture of the space from ever-changing angles. These rotating mirrors are accompanied by a soundscape constructed in five phases, each serving as a listening exercise. Each phase draws inspiration from the legacies of groundbreaking composers such as Pauline Oliveros, Hildegard Westerkamp, Laurie Anderson, Éliane Radigue, and Yoko Ono—composers known for their unique approaches to listening. As the atmosphere, rhythm, and sound of the space shift with each phase, these rotating chapters invite you to continually attune your ears to the music and stories of these influential composers.