Thijs Biersteker
Awarness artist to create sustainable digital work on topics of climate change, pollution and nature
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Run Like a Refugee

RUN LIKE A REFUGEE

Run like refugee from Iran to the Netherlands in VR.


 
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In the 2016 immigration crisis, people became blind for the images and numb by the numbers.

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The installation was created to prioritize the human story behind the numbers, by allowing individuals to experience the journey of a real refugee.

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Running on a treadmill they controlled the VR experience, running from Iran to the Netherlands.


Millions of articles on refugees appear every day, making people numb for the human story behind these numbers. To make people experience the issue themselves, we created an interactive installation that makes people run like a refugee.

Using the true (and horrible) story of Himan Machmudi, people could experience his journey from Iran to the Netherlands.

Run Like a Refugee was developed for the kickoff of the Creative Press challenge and is now touring around the Netherlands.

Commissioned by
de Volkskrant, UAF

Client
de Persgroep Nederland, Stefanie van Rootselaar


Concept
Thijs Biersteker

Creative direction
Thijs Biersteker + Pieter van den Heuvel

Digital production
Thispagecannotbefound.com

Production leads
Edward Tetteroo & Jordi Buskermolen

Developers
Ilja Dvornikovs, Andrius Jakubauskas & Adrien JeanJean

Digital creative experience director
Gavin Kempenaar

Director
Daniel Nogueira (Cake film & photography)

Design
Gijs van Niftrik, Thijs Biersteker

Technical lead
Koert Gaaikema

Music & Sound design
Michiel Mullink & Dion Fanggidaej – AMP.Amsterdam

Stand Design
Thijs Biersteker, Camilo Kneppers, Gavin Kempenaar

Sound Design + Music
Michiel Mullink –Amp.Amsterdam

Assistant Sound Design + Music
Dion Fanggidaej – Amp.Amsterdam


With special thanks to
Himan Mahmoudi for sharing his story.



Research and  collaboration

Research and
collaboration