FINGER LITTLE FINGER
Intervintion in public space with Salim Bayri︎
Vlesshal︎ - Middelburg
2025
For the sixth edition of ‘Oemoemenoe’, artists Salim Bayri and Ghita Skali have developed a project that explores social systems and the dynamics within communities in Zeeland. As part of the project, Bayri and Skali designed a doormat, which was produced in an edition of 250. These doormats were secretly distributed without any sender in the streets surrounding the Oostkerk in Middelburg on the night of April 23, 2025.
In the days that followed, local residents informed the Zeeland press, and rumors about the “doormat mystery” began to circulate.
In the days that followed, local residents informed the Zeeland press, and rumors about the “doormat mystery” began to circulate.
“What is going on here? Today, the streets around the Oostkerk are suddenly full of mats. What’s that you say? Mats? Yes, mats. Mysterious mats.”
– Edwin Mijnsbergen of Wij zijn De Stad
With this everyday object, Bayri and Skali sought to unravel a web of gossip and social dynamics within Zeeland’s communities. The project explored ideas about connection, social roles, and the influence of advertising by referring to the metaphor of a doorway. After secretly distributing the doormats, Vleeshal informed the local website and Instagram account Wij zijn De Stad, which reports on all the latest news in and around Middelburg, about the mysterious event, to spark rumors.
On June 26, 2025, it was revealed that the doormats were part of ‘Oemoemenoe’, Vleeshal’s local nomadic program. Residents who received a mat were anonymously invited to the event. On the day of the announcement, they were all welcomed to the unveiling at the Oostkerk, where Vleeshal and the artists were present.
Finger little finger
Material: Coir doormat
Format: 700 x 400 mm
Beste buurtbewoner / Dear neighbor
Material: postcards sent to the neighborhood
Format: A5
Reveal event
Oostkerk of Middelburg on June 26, 2025.
Photographies : Karin de Boer, Wij zijn de stad and Omroep Zeeland
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Press Leakage
︎ Finger little finger: the Middelburg mats mystery has been solved - by Wij zijn de stad
︎ Mysterious mats appear in the area around Oostkerk Middelburg - by Wij zijn de stad
︎ The great doormat mystery - by Bart Josten - Omroep Zeeland
︎ Mystery: Dozens of houses in Middelburg get a new doormat in the middle of the night - by Jeroen Lelieveldt - PZC
︎ But the mat mystery, sir, remains - by wij zijn de stad
︎ Doorbell footage reveals first clue in mysterious mat campaign by Bart Josten - Omroep Zeeland
︎ The Middelburg Matten Mystery is solved! - by Wij zijn de stad