De Stadscollectie Antwerpen is a lively tribute to the artists who give colour to the city of Antwerp. From emerging talent to established names, this collection highlights local creativity but also the global influence of Antwerp’s art scene. Welcome!

Els Dietvorst

(c)Els Dietvorst
The Dance of the Thatcher, 2019
Video , 00:40:00
digital file

For The Dance of the Thatcher, Dietvorst follows Matt, a thatcher, for eight years during his work. Thatching is an old craft and a profession that is threatened by current socio-economic conditions. Matt's way of life is at odds with today's super-fast and virtual world. In his world, knowledge is acquired through action and words are sparingly spoken. Traditions and rituals are not in the service of capital or ideology, but of life itself. The film fits in with Dietvorst's interest in phenomena that are being ignored by modern progress ideology.