Make no mistake, these are not parts of the witch’s house from the famous story Hansel and Gretel. These seductive pieces by Johannes Buttner are part of an installation that filled his entire studio. These constructions were surrounded by what seemed to be ruins made of plaster and bits of metal nets and rods, which prevent direct access to the cakes. And here, to get to the sweets, you had to pass some difficulties.  

Somewhere in a small attic in Amsterdam, Nick Fusaro gives us a glace of heaven. A young fig succeeded to grow fruit, while standing next to the window and searching for more sun. Although it grows in a pot and not in a garden, the combination of this unexpected tree in the center of the city takes directly to the Garden of Eden. Next to the tree, a small drawing hangs with images of other things that could be in heaven. The artist created with his this work, a glimpse of paradise in the center of Amsterdam.

The main impression I had from visiting the exhibition of  Ali Kazma in Akinci, was of a sensitive link that was created between his video art works. It took me few minutes to realize that they are all about handmade objects, about the process of creation: to make something with your hands that does not yet exist. Kazman kept these moments of creation pure, subtle and at the same time godly. 

Ed van der Elsken captured this intimate moment in front of the mirror. What makes this moment even more significant, is that it is not clear if it is a self-loving gesture, or a self-hating one.

This photo was taken from the windows sill of my living room on the 20th of June 1943. What you see is one of the last razzias that took place in this part of Amsterdam. It is most likely that these people were handed over by citizens which were paid for their civil services. My view of our street has changed entirely after seeing this photo.

Seriously?! Photos of refugees, both children and adults, in life-size hanging on the wall, and in front of these photos, a barbed wire fence. Seriously?! Is this a serious attempt to fake reality? 
After you leaving the first room of Bela Tarr's exhibition space, you get to the rooms which contain his real art: a fragment from his film Satantango which envokes goosbumps. In this fragment we see a girl walking towards us, holding a cat that she killed. Cruelty and despair hit you in the face and break your heart, unlike the fake reality from the first room. 

This is the last scene of the film El becerro pintado, by David Pantaleon. The man who painted the calf in gold, now washes the paint off. This golden calf was saved from slaughter, and thereby shows our hypocrisy: When the calf was golden, we wanted him at the center of the altar. Now, after the golden paint has been washed off, the calf is no longer important and can go back to the stall.

One after the other people approach a stone or other holy object. They raise their hand thrilling and touch the surface gently.  Many of them kiss it to and dry the tears.  Harun Faruki filmed pilgrims visiting holy objects in different places. Mostly they were filmed from the back in a way that you don't really see their faces. Maybe it is enough to see the silhouette of the head and the hand to understand this touching moment.