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Every day in the Netherlands, approximately 1.5 million animals are killed for consumption. But what does it feel like to take an animal’s life for food? Okki Poortvliet (1999) is an artist, documentary maker and designer who often approaches her subjects from an anthropological perspective. In her experimental style, employing staged scenes and analogue animations to support her narrative, observation and the absurdity of the relationship between people and their lived world take centre stage. Poortvliet seeks to introduce audiences to the world of another. Her work often centres on our relationship with nature and the impact of climatic and cultural change.
In Dierendoders (2024–2025), Poortvliet follows people who, for various reasons, kill animals. What is the difference between swatting a fly, setting a mousetrap and slaughtering a chicken? Is everyone capable of killing? Why do we know so little about what happens inside slaughterhouses? Poortvliet does not offer answers, and is neither judgemental nor activist. She explains: ‘Slaughterhouses used to be located in town centres. Nowadays, they are found on industrial estates, and meat comes from the supermarket. That is why – as someone who has never witnessed the killing of animals – I was particularly curious.’
For the presentation at Prospects, Poortvliet reduced the three-part video installation to a single screen, focusing on the perspective of hunter and cattle farmer Geert. Through an open conversation, she presents a moving portrait filled with tender, humorous and painful moments, inviting reflection on life and death.
Written by: Esther Darley