Monnikenwerk | 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2023 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 1 rolina 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 2 polina 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 3 nienke 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk 4 anniek 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk yeva 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
monnikenwerk mevr.feitsma 2023 andreas church eenum netherlands
Monnikenwerk
Out of my own context—both literally and figuratively—I was given space to develop new thoughts, to connect with the place, and to work from there.
The Monnikenwerk project took place from 12 July to 16 August 2023. In the quiet space of a medieval church, fourteen artists worked for six Wednesdays on their monastic work. At the end of each working day, visitors were welcome to experience the dialogue between church and art. I worked in the church of Eenum.
The bricked-up women's entrance, the women’s section in the church, and Christian iconography were of particular interest to me and became the starting point for a new series of drawings created in the church of Eenum. I presented the drawings as an installation on the women’s side, placed in the pews. I asked several female visitors to pose with an attribute—the old key of the church—and took a series of photographs. The photos were taken in front of the bricked-up women's entrance, always from behind. I translated these images into symbolic charcoal drawings.
I am inspired by Christian iconography, especially by the saints who are identified in part through their attributes. I subtly incorporate contemporary accessories as attributes, which in a broader sense suggest something about the supposed personality of the women in my work. On a deeper level, I want the serenity of the works to convey something of the mystical power found in ancient frescoes and statues of saints. Every Wednesday, I revisited one of the photos and drawings, zoomed in, and highlighted a fragment.
These Wednesdays became my monnikenwerk: patiently and attentively carrying out a task that requires perseverance and long breath.
A song inspired by the monastic work of Rolina Nell.
Within a single day, Maritsa created a song inspired by Rolina’s work.
The installation consists of six charcoal drawings (each 73 x 27 cm) and forty-two pencil drawings on Arches grain satiné 300g paper (each 10.5 x 14.8 cm).