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In 2011, a wolf turned up in the Netherlands for the first time in a century. There are even a few packs now. Josje Hattink noticed that this immediately led to a discussion about possible reductions in their numbers and area, who subsequently wrote a research plan about the changing boundaries between human and animal habitats. “Nationally and internationally, public opinion about 'nature' is strongly influenced by media attention and it even seems to be decisive in dealing with natural habitats. The wolf's story relates to our society today in many ways, with questions about establishing boundaries and boundaries, about taking or giving space, and about distinguishing between friends and foes,” said Hattink. With field research in nature and game reserves, at game crossings, fences and other boundaries, she wanted to study how animals and people are systematically monitored and observed.

Hattink set up a broad network of shepherds, forest managers, activists and local politicians to go out with. She took inspiration from the book Being a Beast by Charles Foster and made a series of audio essays that she grafted onto the radio program Vroege Vogels, in which so much is insinuated that you automatically see what is being said. She researched wolves and legends, partly in the French Pyrenees. She made a large series of drawings, conducted interviews, approached experts, and thus found an interesting polyphony of supporters and opponents of the wolf. Various local media in turn paid attention to her research, which elicited many reactions, tips and stories to continue working with. For example, she became artist in residence at Waterworks on Brienenoord Island with a project about the Waterwolf – a direct result of the R&D research. For example, R&D has given it the space to set up new, related projects. That way the ball keeps rolling.

Podcast series Willingly and Knowingly the Wolf
The first episode of her latest podcast series, Willingly and Knowingly the Wolf, can be listened to online since the beginning of October 2022. For this four-part series, she went into the wild in the middle of the corona pandemic, looking for the wolf and the human who likes it. In the podcast she looks at wolves through the eyes of people. And people through the eyes of wolves. In Episode 1, she speaks to people who have seen the wolf. Or think you have seen. Was it really a wolf?
Listen to the podcast here.

Josie Hattink
Hattink studied at the KABK in The Hague, at Leiden University (art history), and at the Piet Zwart Institute. Her work has been shown in galleries, the New Institute in Rotterdam, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NEST The Hague and at Unfair14, among others. Earlier she set up networks for her project Drach (2017) with peat workers and geologists, and for Voice of a Sinking Landscape (2018) with climate scientists and the local community of the Horstermeerpolder.

Willingly and Knowingly the Wolf is partly realized thanks to a contribution from the scheme Development and Research Grants (R&D)† With this contribution, CBK Rotterdam gives Rotterdam visual artists the opportunity to further develop their practice and increase their visibility.