Invisible Cities
In his latest journeys, Jongeleen no longer runs meditative circles through aesthetic landscapes but ventures into the forest, deviating from established paths. He follows animal tracks deep into the woods, where he sometimes encounters hidden treasures. Alongside deer, wild boars, or wolves, he also discovers traces of human presence, such as remnants of abandoned ruins. During one of these expeditions, he stumbled upon a hidden bunker village: a cluster of about 15 bunkers that appeared untouched since World War II. Traces of German troops remain visible as if time has stood still. However, new traces have also appeared: Jongeleen painted murals on the German concrete.
But what can be seen in Jongeleen’s bunker village remains shrouded in mystery. Instead of straightforward video or photographic documentation, he presents in Invisible Cities interpretations and translations that contribute to a carefully constructed myth. For instance, on different occasions, he invited six writer friends to the location and asked them to capture their experiences in text. Images of the murals, which he claims to have created, were processed using artificial intelligence, resulting in disorienting, fragmented visuals. The outcome is a series of works and a publication that both reveal and conceal—a layered narrative where fact and fiction merge.