Out of my own context, literally and figuratively given space, developing new thoughts to connect with the place and from there to work.
The Monnikenwerk project took place in the period from 12 July to 16 August 2023. In the quiet space of a medieval church, fourteen artists worked six Wednesdays on their monnikenwerk (monastic work). At the end of the working day, visitors were welcome to experience church and art. I worked in the church of Eenum.
The bricked up women's door, the women's side in the church and Christian iconography are of particular interest to me and have been the reason for a new series of drawings that were realised in the church of Eenum. I presented the drawings as an installation on the women's side, in the pews of the church. I asked some female visitors to pose with an attribute; the old key of the church and took a number of photos. The photos were taken in front of the bricked-up women's entrance. Photos taken from the behind. With charcoal I worked this out into a symbol. I am inspired by Christian iconography; the saints who are identified, among other things, by their attributes. I also subtly incorporate typical accessories. As contemporary attributes, they reveal, in a more general sense, something about the supposed personality of the women in my work. On a deeper level, I want the serenity in my works to carry some of the mystical power reminiscent of ancient frescoes and statues of saints. Every Wednesday I took a closer look at the photo and charcoal drawing, zoomed in and highlighted a fragment. During Wednesdays I worked on my monnikenwerk - patiently and attentively carrying out a task that requires a long breath -.
A song inspired by the work of Rolina Nell
Within a day Maritsa created a song inspired by the work of Rolina
The installation consists of six charcoal drawings (piece 73 x 27 cm) and forty-two pencil drawings on arches grain satiné 300gr paper (piece 10,5 x 14,8 cm).