Commissioned by: BFO – Niek van Der Sprong productions. Location – Park Wezenlanden Zwolle. Period: 2011
Flight 050511 is a challenging game was developed in 2011 especially for the 5 May festival. While playing, the festival visitor puts himself in the shoes of a fictitious refugee and makes the flight from his homeland to the Netherlands. Besides the sun, great atmosphere and good music, there was also room and attention for more serious matters and depth. This game could be played with 4 people. And even though it was only a game, in the meantime one could also touch for a moment on the frustrations and hardships an average refugee has to endure before, during and after his ‘flight’.
‘Among the eating, drinking and hopping crowd, the Liberation Festival also focuses on reflection. Two women and their children imperturbably play the game Flight 050511, or Crawl into the Skin of a Refugee. A kind of advanced goose board where you apply for asylum in the Netherlands as quickly as possible. ‘A family member has been affected by genocide. Genocide? What is that? You should skip nice two turns.’ Quote from the Stentor newspaper
