‘We are going Home’

Last April, Ayman, Emiel and Yassin performed the play Home at KMSKA. They wrote that play themselves. The project was part of the youth work "De Trappen”. Project employee Youssef Lambarat had a conversation with the Word Art students about ... home. What is that, being at home? Feeling at home? 

By Youssef Lamrabat

All three of you come from different backgrounds and live in Antwerp. How has this influenced you as people and as artists? 

Yassin Hens "My father is Moroccan and my mother is Flemish. I feel like a mix of everything. When I make work, I try to seek my heritage along both sides, because I feel both are equally important. Even though I miss part of both sides. Which I sometimes regret, because then you don't really feel at home anywhere. 

Emiel Crutzen 'Antwerp gives me a lot of inspiration, a lot happens between the walls of the city. I am convinced that this city has made me. I would be someone completely different if I lived somewhere else.' 

Ayman Sitiane 'I was born and raised in Antwerp. My parents are Moroccan and I feel I use this connection as a source of inspiration: the culture, the music, the history of my family, that's where I draw inspiration from for my work. My heritage is my pride.' 

HET KIEL

You chose Jacob Grimmer's work Het Kiel to create a performance around it. Why this work? And how did you arrive at the theme Home? 

Emiel "Antwerp is very diverse, with many different people from completely different worlds. Yet everyone fits into the same city. A bit like us. We want to show how different all three of us are but how we are still the same. That is also our starting point and our message: everyone is the same.' 

Yassin "What we mainly want is to make the audience come home. To let them enjoy and lean back, like they are sitting in the couch at home.'

Het Kiel looks completely different today. If you were to perform the play for your peers at Het Kiel, what would you like them to remember?

Yassin "That they belong. Young people often feel that they fall beside society. That creates insecurity and then you start putting yourself against everything and getting a “fuck everything” mentality. I think that's really unfortunate. 

Emiel 'I would say: make a plan and have discipline. Then you'll get there.' 

FILM OR THEATHER? 

What is your biggest artistic influence? 

Yassin 'Theater is fucking cool. Museums and galleries are also really great, I think it's super fun to walk around KMSKA and look at other people's inner lives. I admire self-expression and I'm more likely to look for it in a brush, painting or monologue. Looking at art is as much fun for me as making art myself.'

Ayman "I also love all artistic forms of self-expression. But my love really goes to film. When I watch a film I lose myself in it. I hope one day to make films with cultural heritage.' 

If you had to choose between film and theater? 

Emiel 'For me film, but you always have to start with theater. In film you can make so many mistakes and still be the best actor. But in theater you have to learn to use mistakes. So for me like a combination and theater to have your trade with.' 

Yassin "Choosing is hard, but still I go for theater. That's foundation. You have to learn the alphabet first before you can start writing. Theater is also just more fun because you have a direct dialogue with your audience. With film, I sometimes feel like it's non-contact. 

HEALTHY ART

As a creative, I know that inspiration is not always available. Where do you look for inspiration?

Emiel "I have a creative corner in my house and there I write or draw. I also stare out the window a lot. That gives me a lot of inspiration.' 

Aymen 'Art is really so important in our society. Really healthy for soul. Whether you're an artist or not. You just have to go see a piece and you feel so good afterwards.'

Yassin "Nothing better therapy than going to a museum or going to see a play. Most people suck at ‘I'm not good at that, so I'm not going to do that’. Just do it! It doesn't have to look good? Art is actually the medicine for our society that is souring. 

ULTIMATE DREAM

What does your dream project look like? 

Ayman "To be a director with a very large cast, and preferably actors who don't have too much or no experience yet. Of course I would love to see Denzel Washington or something in my casting, but by nature I like to give opportunities to others.' 

Emiel "I would love to work on a film with a cast that I'm getting to know as I am now. And then see what the chemistry is like. If that's good with these people, then keep working and growing. Like we've done a little bit now. I love discovering. 

Yassin "I'm part of social-cultural theater myself, but I would love to work as a director with people who have nothing to do with theater. Just showing them that it's not difficult at all. But my ultimate dream is a conversation with Helena Bonham Carter. I think that's a terrifying, multi-sided actress.'

This article previously appeared in ZAAL Z, the museum's magazine. For as little as 35 euros you will receive four editions that will immerse you in the fascinating world of the museum and its magnificent collection.