In I Wan’na Be Like You, Margit Lukács and Persijn Broersen examine the concept of the wilderness in the eyes of the West. The wilderness is often seen as terra nullius, an ‘undiscovered’ territory that once attracted colonial powers. Lukács and Broersen explore how this wilderness – or jungle – was conquered and then put on display in botanical gardens in cities like Paris, London, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Using photogrammetry, 3D moulding, clay modelling, motion capture and CGI, they’ve created a virtual representation of this conquered jungle. This eerie maze forms the background for an avatar of a spirit, a hybrid being that floats between the past and the future. The avatar dances to music based on the song I Wan’na Be Like You from Disney’s The Jungle Book, reinterpreted as an homage to New Orleans jazz and as an indictment of the racism of the original version.

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Marte Röling

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Marleen Sleeuwits

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Sven Kroner