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Inspired by the therapeutic method of sand play, Lisa Matthys and theatre maker Katrien Oosterlinck create immersive game settings where participants craft intricate landscapes using sand and various objects. Through this process, participants engage with different layers of their own experiences, symbolically exploring the landscapes of their past, present, and future. The act of arranging objects and figures within these sandscapes becomes a form of storytelling, allowing deeper, unconscious narratives to emerge. This symbolic play provides participants with the freedom to view their personal stories from multiple perspectives, using the objects as metaphors to express what words often cannot.

The participants, a group of young people from Centrum West/D'Broej (including Ester, Samba, Abdarrahim, Justin, Cédric, Steve, Chen-Lee, Piftou, and Abdel), not only engage with their own stories but also act as witnesses to each other's journeys. The shared experience fosters a sense of mutual understanding and empathy, as they observe and support one another’s creative processes.

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The atmosphere of the game is carefully crafted, shaped by the materials, sounds, and the collective guidance within the group. In sand play, participants, though often adults or adolescents, embrace the childlike freedom to play with seriousness and intent. It is through this playful yet sincere interaction with the sand, objects, and figures that unconscious thoughts, emotions, and experiences are projected and given form. This method provides a space for participants to confront, reinterpret, and connect with their inner world in a safe and imaginative way.

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The result is a deeply reflective and collaborative environment where the symbolic language of the game invites participants to delve into their personal stories, using the landscapes they build as mirrors to their emotional and psychological states. Through this process, they not only engage with their own inner narratives but also contribute to a shared collective experience that deepens their connection to one another.

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The video-work was exhibited in BOZAR in October 2021.