From T.I.N.A to T.A.M.A
Public Academy for Post-Capitalist Behaviour
From T.I.N.A. to T.A.M.A. became a public academy—a space where we learned together through practice, in an ever-growing circle of experts, artists, and fellow city residents.
During the development of this project, we made two important discoveries:
We create a specific hybrid form that combines a program and a performance, where fictional characters and activst speakers merge.
Our role as an artistic organization is to create a space for imagination, inspiring and empowering our audience to innovate. This means making a mental shift away from the rhetoric of capitalism and towards thinking in terms of multiple future alternatives: from "There is no alternative" to "There are many alternatives."
Concept & Direction: Mara van Nes
Text: Basak Layic, Julia Beth Harris, Mara van Nes
Music: Martijn van Ditshuizen
Partner: 7 Billion Presidents
Performance Dates : October 13 2024, November 23 2024
Made possible by: The Amsterdam Fund for the Arts
The first step to reaching a new world is to imagine it
A floating gathering in search of alternatives
On October 13 2024, An audience of 35 people departed on a repurposed migrant rescue boat, from the harbour of Rederij Lampdusa. Setting out for a 1.5-hour journey through the canals and the Amstel river. After a brief introduction the audience put on headphones of a silent disco set and listened to a 20-minute audio contemplation. This was live-mixed by musician Martijn van Ditshuizen, using specially recorded music samples and the pre-recorded voice of writer/performer Julia Beth Harris, with a text written by Basak Layic.
During this contemplation, much like a guided meditation, the audience was led by priestess Tama to see the city—and themselves—through different eyes. At moments, the voice of Tina interrupted Tama’s narrative with a polyphonic mantra of advertising slogans such as “Just do it” and “Because you’re worth it.”
Afterwards a debate followed with various scholars and artists (Selçuk Balamir - designer, researcher and organizer, David Theuvenet - founder of 7 Billion Presidents and
Julia Beth Harris - poet and performer). Together with the audience we came to envision a new city; one where we, its citizens, let go of our identity of consumers and choose collective wellbeing over individual gain.
You can find out more about Rederij Lampedusa’s actions and performances here
TAMA:
We built this world, these systems
But what if our systems also built us?
Shaped us. Fed us.
Defined the way we see each other, the way we see ourselves,
How we love, and the way we live.
“Profit must exceed cost”
“Production must meet consumption”
Go go go grow grow grow
Keep going don’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop
Progress doesn’t sleep, and neither do we.
We work, we produce, we consume… and this is the way it has to be.
Or does it?
A ceremonial Farewell to capitalism
From TINA to TAMA returned in an upgraded iteration on November 23 2024 at the Nieuwe Kerk in the heart of Amsterdam during the 2024 iteration of the Spirit of Amsterdam Festival. This time in the form of a performance, blended with inspirational orations in the imposing halls of one of the oldest Neo-Gothic churches in the Netherlands.
Margaret Thatcher famously said that there is no alternative to liberal capitalism.
She hasn’t met priestess Tama.
Tama will take us along for a musical program, in which we will contemplate together. Amsterdam, once the cradle of colonialism, is particularly significant in reflecting on both past and future. The second edition of ‘From T.I.N.A. to T.A.M.A. is taking place in de Nieuwe Kerk, on top of the grave of Michiel de Ruyter, renowned captain in the period of Dutch imperialism.
This ceremonial farewell is held as part of the Spirit of Amsterdam Festival, centered around Amsterdam’s most beautiful and sometimes hidden places of worship, bringing surprising performances of music, art, culture and rituals.
Nieuwe Kerk (Spirit of Amsterdam 2024)
Featuring poet and performer Julia Beth Harris and multi-instrumentalist Martijn van Ditshuizen.
Chautuileo Tranamil, author, keynote speaker, educator and indigenous lobbyist integrating cosmo visions and restorative justice.
Melissa Koutouzis, co-initiator of Het Woonpotest, board member of Huurders Netwerk Amsterdam and works at the Transnational Institute.
Niki Bharat, a social and environmental activist committed to bringing decolonial paradigms into bodies of movements, as well as into movements within bodies - by bridging the inner and outer in the prospect of a transformative and just future.
David Theuvenet, founder of 7 Billion Presidents, working toward an alternative, regenerative economy.
