Sophie Bates

The parts are Sacre (2015), Sacre 2: HEX (2017) and Sacr3: Eternal Return (2019). The video works are following an anonymous protagonist searching for freedom and meaningfulness.

4 Seasons of Dates is an live action video in which two people are set up on a romantic blind date to be recorded. Mimicking the structure of a T.V. dating show, the ‘daters’, are mic’d up and meet live on camera at a food venue in Rotterdam. The frontal camera follows them down the street, as they engage in a conversation whilst walking and consuming their snack. Each date take place in a different season with a corresponding snack. For Summer they had ice cream, Winter – Oliebollen, Autumn – fries and Spring, a hotdog. The four dates are shot on location in Rotterdam over the course of the year. The set up is a genuine attempt to pair people the artist knows or has met recently to find romantic connections. The conversation and body language reveals the ‘daters’ romantic, platonic or disinterest in the other.