Marleny
Colombia - Netherlands / 2021 / single channel video installation / HD video, 16:9, colour, stereo / 2'18'', loop

Marleny shows the resemblance of Minutos seller Marleny and her accesories in 21st century Medellín with the painting Allegory of Justice by Lucas Cranach from 1537. The painting was adopted for group exhibition Lady Justice by curators Marja van Putten and Astrid Moors. When seeing their Open Call I instantly had to think of the accessories of Minutos sellers I noticed in Colombia. One of them is in my film Calle from 2018: Marleny in Medellín. I invited artist Jan Rothuizen to relate to my work with drawings. My proposal was selected and artist Alejandro Vasquez Salinas filmed Marleny again in June 2021. The show took place at Playroom in Zaandam in October 2021.

Some background information about the Minutos phenomenon: In Colombia many people make phone calls at street vendors who have about four to six mobile telephones (celulares) connected to different providers. It is cheaper and faster to call on one of their phones than to buy new credit or to subscribe. It is also cheaper to call within the same provider, e.g. Tigo, Claro, Movistar etc. The customer pays per minute, hence the name minutos. The sellers store their cell phones in the pockets of their vests that have Minutos Celular printed on them, and they carry banners showing how many pesos 1 minute costs. The vests are for sale on the street or in shops. The telephones are linked to the seller by means of chains or ropes to prevent theft.