SPOTTED: Metropolis M on Yannic Nierkens’ True Love – an intimate glimpse into the world of reborns
- Design
Every year, the magazine Metropolis M releases a Graduation Special, featuring work from various alumni who graduated as visual artists. Yannic Nierkens graduated from Moving Image in Enschede and is one of the alumni featured in the special. Metropolis M asked Yannic: "What is the story behind your work?”
In the documentary Echte Liefde (Real Love), Yannic Nierkens explores his fascination with unknown worlds. The film shows people with an unusual hobby, namely Reborns. ‘Reborns are realistic baby dolls that are in many cases indistinguishable from real babies’, explains Nierkens. ‘Although a lot of people find their appearance creepy, there are people who love them and enjoy holding the dolls, collecting them and caring for them – within the safety of their own homes, because they face rejection and hate, even from close family members, and they form online communities in order to find understanding and connection.’
Nierkens first read about Reborns in a newspaper, where they were portrayed as a hobby. ‘I knew straight away that I wanted to do something with them. It struck me as a sensitive subject, one that needed to be approached with appropriate care.’ His caution reflects the fact they are often portrayed negatively and sensationally in the news. ‘Some of the women I visited share photos and videos of their Reborns on social media. Although they often get positive responses, there's also a lot of negative reaction, particularly online, where it is easy for people to express their disgust.’ Nierkens was told that many people who first come into contact with the lifelike dolls find them freaky.
With Echte Liefde, Nierkens wants to temper that incomprehension and generate more empathy for the Reborn community. ‘Most people who engage in this hobby are women, many of whom have heartbreaking stories. For example, some have lost children of their own. Reborns are also used to help people with dementia. When they hold one of these dolls for a little while, it visibly cheers them up.’
Nierkens also discerns a more general, society-wide tendency in the hobby: ‘What attracted me about this subject was the connection we humans can feel with objects. That's also very topical: how the non-human is suddenly gaining a voice. I hope people will be able to see beyond their first reaction and reflect on what empathy with the non-human could bring us.’
Author: Gerda van de Glind, writer and curator.