Two months after her first visit to the Rhône Delta, Rita Hoofwijk began to form a clearer idea of the direction she wanted to take with her work. Although captivated by the natural landscapes of the Camargue, Rita realized that they corresponded to the picturesque image she had imagined—and that one found on postcards: white horses, wild bulls, and salt marshes. In contrast, she was struck by the industrial landscape of the area adjoining the Camargue Regional Nature Park.
Between dystopia, science-fiction scenery, and a spectacle of globalization, Rita decided to focus her work on the degraded landscapes of the industrial and port zone. She then began a period of research and field documentation about this area—its activity, its connection to the Camargue, and its history. For a week, she explored the territory, listening to the stories of those who inhabited it. She gathered legends, beliefs, anecdotes, and scientific data that served as the raw material for the storytelling that formed the foundation of her performance.
