Manifesto

'I have used the title Manifesto as a clear statement that the focus in this work is above all on texts, whether by visual artists, filmmakers, writers, performers or architects – and on the poetry of these texts. Manifesto is an homage to the beauty of artists' manifestos – a manifesto of manifestos,' the German filmmaker Julian Rosefeldt explains. 

Manifesto marks Rosefeldt's return to the Holland Festival, following the showing of his film for Rene Jacob’s performance of Haydn's Die Schöpfung in 2016. This new work is a film installation. In a large room, thirteen films are shown simultaneously. The films are based on the writings of Futurists, Dadaists, Fluxus artists, Suprematists, Situationists, members of Dogma 95 and members of other art movements, as well as on the thoughts and writings of individual artists, architects, dancers and filmmakers. The ideas of Claes Oldenburg, Yvonne Rainer, Kazimir Malevich, André Breton, Sturtevant, Sol LeWitt and Jim Jarmusch and more are quoted. Rosefeldt used their manifestos to produce thirteen different collages, which come to life in front of his lens. Manifesto implicitly asks what the artist's role is in contemporary society: all texts deal with breaking boundaries and restrictions – be they territorial, intellectual or artistic – and with disseminating new ideas. These manifestos are represented by thirteen different characters, each performed by the Australian actress Cate Blanchett. Her characters include a teacher, puppeteer, newsreader, factory worker, choreographer and homeless person. Rosefeldt is convinced that many of the manifestos are still visionary. 'Art history is a derivation of history and we learn from history. Artists, as well as writers, philosophers and scientists, have always been the ones who have dared to formulate thoughts and visions whose consistency had yet to be proven. We’re well advised, therefore, to read artist manifestos as seismographs of our age.'

Focus: democracy

This year several festival artists are looking at the problems faced by Western democracies. The French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville admired democracy for its social equality. He saw its dangers too. Director Romeo Castellucci is making Democracy in America, based on De Tocqueville’s eponymous book (1835). In The Gabriels director Richard Nelson reflects on the recent American election year through the eyes of an ordinary family. Other artists focus on controversies in democracies, such as the issue of refugees in directors Dieudonné Niangouna and Thomas Bellinck’s performances. Others address the threat of violence (Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed), tyranny (Octavia), or shaping activism (The Tempest Society). In Manifesto the film director Julian Rosefeldt examines the relation between art and society. 

We are presenting two national theatre production companies, each with its own state of the nation: My Country by the National Theatre in London, and The Nation by the Dutch National Theatre in The Hague. Both performances show divided countries in which no one, from politicians to citizens, seems to dare to take responsibility. We also believe that it is important to explore democracy of form. Members of the audience can get actively involved as a passer-by, participant, or activist, if they so wish. Our artists encourage you to question the old hierarchy between the audience and the artists.