Artist In Residence/
TheateR Rotterdam
Atelier voor Landschap & Lichaam, Buitenplaats Brienenoord Rotterdam, 2019
In this mobile atelier I collected stories told by the natural or cultivated surroundings I travel through. These stories are often memories based on human culture. However, the movement of flora through the ages tells a hopeful story as well.
To create the connection of our bodies with the land, old fashioned or modern techniques are used to capture the environment and turn them into products to care for ourselves with.
Examples of this are cleansing teas, wild fermentation, steam distillations resulting in hydrosols and essential oils for perfume, soap and massage oil. Facial mists and water vapour are often carriers of volatile scented components of plants, which is an interesting way to relate the spirit of a plant with one of humans least used sensorial capacities: smell.
Using the surroundings of the Brienenoord island as a natural heaven in the city, I created a series of rituals to be performed in a cabin. These rituals were experienced in small groups, where small natural components were enlarged with a shared moment of recognition and care for each other.
Using the architectural elements available from the circular building site, the cabin turned out to be a square office-like environment, with large semi-transparent glass panels and blinds as a modern and possibly safe enclosure. Just to connect in here with the surrounding nature, created an atmosphere of focus in dissociation. The ritual was ended with the opening of the door, leaving the office for nature, which was just before experienced in detail by its partakers.