The annual Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival is underway in the Noorderplantsoen, but the Groninger Bodem Beweging is bringing life in the province to the heart of the city of Groningen with an earthquake simulator.
Translation by Traci White
OOG TV reports that the earthquake victim interest group Groninger Bodem Beweging (Groningen Ground Movement) has set up an earthquake simulator designed by artist Davey Smand in the park.
According to the GBB and Smand, the project is an important way to continue drawing attention to the ongoing induced earthquake issues in the province: even though compensation money has begun to be paid out to victims, it is still a small fraction of the total number of people, properties and lost value caused by the natural gas industry.
Smand told OOG TV, “People in Groningen are dealing with physical and mental damage because of natural gas extraction. Through the audio, virtual reality and literal submersive experience of the similar, you can feel that invisible damage is like.” The goal of the simulator is to share what it is like to live in the earthquake zone with anyone who is unfamiliar with the sensation of constant quakes.
The container with the earthquake experience will be present at Noorderzon until Monday, 19 August, and the festival itself runs through Sunday, 25 August.
Check out this video by OOG TV about the simulator at Noorderzon.