Rehearsal of Justice is a series of participatory gatherings in May and June where communities and individuals come together to rehearse and enact justice. Concept, dramaturgy and host Ehsan Fardjadniya.
The blindfolded figure of Justice steps forward, not with certainty, but into darkness—where the path is uneven and invisible. Justice here takes a precarious step on a tightrope, stretched between power and vulnerability. Underneath is a dark abyss of erasure and abandonment. The rope sways with every force that seeks to pull Justice down. Each step requires immense balance, focus, and resolve. It is a courageous act: to walk blind into the unknown, to carry the weight of judgment without sight, to confront the forces that would rather silence or erase. In this image, justice is not only a destination—it is a struggle in motion, the very act of walking becomes a fragile but defiant gesture toward dignity, truth, and collective strength.
Rehearsal of Justice is a series of participatory gatherings where communities and individuals come together to rehearse and enact justice. By simulating trials and exploring cases centered on fundamental human rights, participants engage in a collective practice of justice—questioning legal systems, imagining alternative outcomes, and reclaiming agency over their own narratives. These rehearsals are not just theoretical exercises but active spaces where the boundaries between performance, activism, and legal inquiry blur, fostering critical dialogue and empowering individuals to challenge injustice.
Featuring:
Souleymand & Gladys – Storytellers and experts in lived experience towards justice
Pim Fischer – Social lawyer who initiated the Bed, Bath, Bread regulation and recently sued the city of Rotterdam over shelter closures
Sven Lütticken – Art historian, critic, and editor, speaking on tribunals, art and activism
Drs. Jordan Dez – Assistant Professor of Law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, researching human rights claims of irregular migrants in Europe and the U.S.
Joset van der Hoeven – Projectcoördinator Netwerk Ongedocumenteerden Onderdak (NOO) initiatief van Stichting LOS.
Elke Uitentuis & Tefferi – Part of alternative shelter Vluchtmaat and WeSell Reality artist group.
Shadows United – Collective of artists with and without the right papers based in Rotterdam.
Nona Kuppen – Juridical staff of STIL Utrecht NGO providing help for undocumented Larrisa Vlieger – Rotterdam municipality Groene links
Julien Ignacio – Writer of novels, short stories, blogs and theater scenarios. Ignacio’s latest roman ‘Goudjakjals’ is an emergent global novel of migration stories. Ignacio won the Amarte Literatuurprijs in 2024 for Goudjakhals.
How many gatherings?
Dates:
Saturday 17th May
Friday 6 June
14th june.
Walk in at 17:30
Time: 18:00 to 20:00
With:
17 May: Souleyman, Joset van de Hoeven, Shadows United, Larrisa Vlieger, Julien Ignacio
6 June: Pim Fischer (video), Drs Jordan Daz, Elke Uitenthuis, Tefferi.
14 June: Glady, Sven Lütticken, Nona Kuppen.
Concept, dramaturgy and host: Ehsan Fardjadniya.
Commissioned by Bak Basecamp.
Image:
Human Values
When justice escapes out of the window
After René Magritte’s Personal Values
Watercolour on paper, 20 × 17 cm
