Collaborative project with Emmie Liebregts
Chapter I, Stretch and fold
During a two month resicency at VanGoghAiR, Atelier de Moeren
Zundert, Netherlands
nov-dec 2023
In November 2023 Emmie Liebregts and I started a research project that focuses on the mental and physical influences from a structured living environment. During Van Gogh Artist in Residence, (NL) we worked by a self-imposed structure which consisted of tight living routines.
The starting point was a letter Van Gogh wrote about his time in a psychiatric institution in Saint Remy de Provence. The core of the therapy was the activation of the gut and thus the perception of feelings. During the residency we lived up to Vincent van Gogh's daily routine including hydrotherapy (hot-cold baths), taking long walks, eating self made bread and soup at set times and by isolating ourselves from the social world. We explore the boundaries between work and private life and how they can be reconsidered. During the work period document and share the process through video, audio and sculptures.
During the last month of the residency period we exchanged notes, data and other pieces in the gallery space ‘Ecker Gallery’ during the exhibition: Can you live my space? Curated by Cristina Materassi and organised by Witte Rook.
Chapter II, Going Out
During a 3 week resicency around Saint Paul de Mausole
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
apr. 2024
After the residency in VanGogh AiR, (NL) in November 2023 Emmie Liebregts and I continued the research project that focuses on the mental and physical influences from a structured living environment. The starting point of the project was a letter Van Gogh wrote about his time in a psychiatric institution in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. After using the letter as a base for our self imposed daily structure during the residency, we felt going out to the actual site where our interest was raised seemed as a logical next thing to do.
At the site, being Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Psychiatric hospital Saint Paul de Mausole, the surrounding mountains and its nature, we acted as good guests who came not only to collect information but also wanted to give in return. In the psychiatric institution we were warmly invited to take part in their art therapy, could listen to care takers and receivers and in return we documented a renovated part of the monistary and gave a workshop in communicating trough making while activating the body.
The outcome is a film in wich you see the clinic and its surrounding nature, parts of the conversations and next to this there are small ceramics and big embroided clots made during the workshop we gave.
A summary of the project was shown, together with parts of the previous chapter, at Breda Central Station in the summer 2024 on invitation by IDFX and KOP.
The picture of the exhibition shown below is made by Linsey Kuijpers.
documentation exhibition: Going Out/ outcomes off the workhsop with the patients
Chapter III, time and place
During a three month resicency at Goethe Institute, Villa Kamogawa
Kyoto, Japan
may-june-july 2024
During the 3 months at the Goethe Institute in Kyoto we focus on how physical and mental space become intertwined. Our work consists of 'doing' by which we mean: analyzing and noting spatial and bodily experiences, collecting the historical knowledge about the architecture and certain rituals and customs within the living space, and getting to know the premises contemporary researchers and artists work in. We document and take notes in many forms, through drawings, through video and sound, through exchange in workshops (which we receive from others, but also give) and, as in our previous residencies, we work in a self-designed/made work outfit.
We believe we have to embody our mindset, so when we work we always wear a selfmade working suit that fits the occasion. Just like our previous residencies we will continue the research project in these self made outfits that give the things we do a performative character and helps us to recognise what is work and what is leisure within this research that is all about ways of living/being on site. The zip-off pants are not only convient during the many different activities in wich we partake, but also serves as a canvas on wich be document our experiences by embroiding, dying and so forth.
Using our own body not only as a form of expression but rather as an entity of knowledge has been tool within our work. The challenge is always how do we share all of these experiences and knowledge we gained? A rural based initiative invited us to a rice planting day, we talked about how production system affects daily life and your connection to the environment beyond yourself. We have met a dancer that focuses on 'contact improvisation'. We feel like 'contact improvisation' is a way of sharing embodied knowledge. Together with the dancer we organized a workshop in contact dance at the Goethe institute.
