“In a small house somewhere in Flanders, my mother and I sit together at the kitchen table. We eat Bubur, a simple but typical Indonesian dish. What starts as an ordinary moment turns into an intimate conversation full of memories. She tells stories about her childhood in Indonesia and about the generations that preceded her. These words form the core of my work. They form a bridge between the past and the present, between here and there. By listening to her stories, I realize how important it is to pass them on. Not only to make them tangible for others, but also to better understand my own Dutch-Indonesian roots. What remains? What disappears?”
In What Lingers When It’s Gone, Lieve Kleeven unites film and live performance. Her vocals blend with traditional Indonesian sounds and her mother’s compelling narratives. A reflection on what continues to resonate, if only we take the time to listen.
