Riding the Blue Wave — Mads Hvidkær Christoffersen

Riding the Blue Wave︎︎︎

An Exhibition on Flow and Undertow in collaboration with Clara Diab (SE)

Statistic shows that the tourism industry sends waves through the country of Croatia. Due to the high number of summer visitors, employment, house prices and the consumer price index experience a significant rise. It seems that the realm of Croatia is limited to the longing for high temperatures, the presence of the sun, and – of course – the blueness of the Adriatic Sea, that so many people come to see during the summer. The exhibition was presented as art of a six-week residency at Prostor in Split, Croatia during the summer of 2025.

Photographs: Glorija Lizde

Ghost Town
Neighbouring Prostor is the Jaman Villa from 1913, a fine example of Art Nouveau in Split. The villa was left in a bad condition for a long time before artist Jaman as part of his side business that is real estate development, mostly to capitalise on the number of tourists arriving every summer.
With discarded wooden beams from the construction side of the Jaman Villa, that will apparently become vacation homes, key boxes was carved. The key boxes being an iconic symbol of an area of “tourist gentrification” where homeowners can welcome their guests without even having to hand them the key.

Photographs: Glorija Lizde

Seven Wonders
In the 1990s Scientist Vladimir Syromiatnikov sent mirror satellites into space to light up certain areas of Siberia during winter. The overall goal was to keep industries (mostly agriculture) running 24/7 and to reduce on electricity needed for streetslamps. In a dystopian scenario, the building of Kineski Zid is turned into the very first 24/7 tourist resort, with light being distributed for guests to “tour” in the night. Split, and especially the beaches, is already full during the day.

Photographs: Glorija Lizde

Night Shift
Two tourists prepare for their night at the beach.

Photographs: Mads Hvidkær Christoffersen & Clara Diab

> Read more about the exhibition here > The Danger of a Simple Story