What If Summer Rain Will Freeze by Ronald van der Meijs

The site-specific installation, located in one of the cold storage rooms of Het Katoenhuis, an early example of globalism through its export of exotic fruits and vegetables, explores the impact of consumerism and the depletion of natural resources and drinking water, driven by an extreme globalised economy.

Rainwater collected in Rotterdam, containing microorganisms and dust particles from distant regions, is transformed into ice cubes through a mechanical production process. These frozen time capsules are expelled in a continuous cycle, creating an ongoing yet unpredictable and contemplative sound composition. The ice cubes complete their journey by melting at the feet of the audience, a transient ritual that leaves behind traces of our current global condition.

Ronald van der Meijs, born in Tilburg in 1966, is an Amsterdam-based artist known for his thought-provoking, site-specific installations and sculptures. He has exhibited across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with works featured at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, the Triennial New Media Art in Beijing, and the Land Art Biennial in Mongolia. He’s been recognised with the Haarlem Vishal Art Prize and short list nominations for the prestigious Prix Ars Electronica and the Witteveen & Bos Art and Technology Prize. His work explores the delicate balance between nature and technology, using unpredictable natural processes to control mechanical structures, creating sound compositions that are constantly evolving. At the core of his work lies a fundamental question: how do we relate to nature in an increasingly artificial world? Through exhibitions, interventions, and live performances, he amplifies the natural rhythms of his installations, blending organic acoustics with digital synthesis to create deep, immersive experiences. Ronald invites us to pause, listen, and reconsider our connection to the environment.