Henk Visch’s studio is located at the end of Voorterweg in Eindhoven. His exhibition space is adjacent to it – a simple building, retaining the style of modern, functional architecture. The red logo lettering Auto Vitesse (“auto speed”) should not be overlooked under the arching gable. This place used to be a car repair shop.

This is a good opportunity for me to think about tempo, about society’s speed and the motorization of the world. I would like to mention two films by the French director Jacques Tati for the introduction to the exhibition in Eindhoven. His movies reflect the time when cars dramatically changed the pace of life and architecture took on a modern form.

The rapid increase in motorization and the fast-paced development of technology reach a climax in his last film “Traffic”. An international motor show in Amsterdam is the destination of a new camper van from the Parisian auto maker Altra. The uncertainties of life and technology make the journey a humorous odyssey, while in parallel the television reports on the first moon landing.

In contrast to “Traffic”, the film setting for “The Big Day“ (FR: “Jour de fête“) is a village. François, the postman, not only delivers letters and news to the village. He is also part of the community and friends with everyone. One example is the slapsticklike scene with the inauguration of a festival monument when he is suddenly put in charge. By request of the villagers, the postman joins in a competition with the American postal service, which even wants to deliver mail with motorized transport like helicopters. In vain, he attempts to increase his pace of work on his bicycle, “Quick, quick, I’m in a hurry.” However, he doesn’t succeed. The doyenne of the village then comforts the postman with the words:

“They should do what they want.

The grass doesn’t grow quicker there either.”