Sophie Ernst

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Sophie Ernst

Dawn

Sophie Ernst

Sophie Ernst

Sophie Ernst, who grew up in the Netherlands, was awarded the prestigious Unesco Aschberg Bursary for her work. Ernst uses video to explore themes of belonging, displacement and cultural relativity in her work. She has won appreciation for her work in Europe, as also in Pakistan and India.

Her entry to Art Dubai is a video installation, titled No place like America. It shows young men who dream of a new life in America. The title is a translation of the Swiss writer Peter Bichsel’s story Amerika gibt es nicht, where he narrates how Colombo, a boy in the court of the Spanish king, discovers America. This was his reaction to the embarrassing remarks made by the courtiers about his simplicity and lack of achievement.

“Sophie Ernst has travelled, lived and learnt what makes people ‘tick’ in Pakistan. In certain ways, a nomad herself, she traces the dreams of those who would wish themselves to be in the diaspora, confusing this with a paradise never to be gained.”

But before he leaves he declares that he would become an adventurer and would one day discover a new world. After hiding in the woods for a month or so, he returns to the king to say that he has found a new country. Another great explorer Amerigo Vespucci is sent to verify Colombo’s discovery. On his return Vespucci winks at Colombo and bows to the king declaring he has found the land, which eventually acquired the name America.

“When people say they have been to America they actually hide in the forest and return with steep tales about the heaven on earth - America,” says Sophie Ernst.

As for her installation at Art Dubai, she says, “Videos are projected on to piles of cardboard boxes. The boxes are the ones used for consumer-goods packing. The videos comprise interviews with young men who desire, attempt or have tried to migrate to America. In the interview they describe the landscape, the society and the lifestyle which they imagine America has in ample measure.”

Grabs from No place like America, video installation, Lahore/Mumbai, 2008