Karin van Pinxteren is the pivot within the exhibition ‘Encounter 2’, for which she invited Henk Olijve and Roland Schimmel. During the preparatory phase they began an intensive dialogue, resulting in a dynamic exhibition of shifting encounters and fluctuations.
In the second edition, with Roland Schimmel, a spatial experience is conjured up that demands the immediate attention. The characters in action have disappeared. The only ones present are the visitors themselves, becoming a physical part of the works. Karin van Pinxteren creates a piece that continues to transform throughout the exhibition period. The dynamic of the collaboration between the three artists bleeds through into the exhibition space.
Karin van Pinxteren
In her work Karin van Pinxteren investigates the physical oppositions between ‘proximity’ and ‘distance’, as well as the psychological field of tension between ‘approach’ and ‘detachment’. In this she employs a range of disciplines. Van Pinxteren’s performances, for example, revolve around a woman who plays a ceremonial role. Her two- and three-dimensional work often takes the shape of large installations, such as the ‘Existential Interiors’ which provide impressions of the spaces in which they are shown. Her work is a sequence of notes on the known and the unknown, on attempts to communicate and articulate questions about art.
Roland Schimmel
Roland Schimmel aims to create a visual ‘short circuit’. He manipulates perception on the level of its unconscious reflexes. The afterimage and its effects, thus observation as a dynamic process, can be considered his main focus. When the image and (painted) afterimage are simultaneously compressed in opposition to the organic process of observation, pressure continues to mount. Reality and illusion seem to be projected interactively onto the canvas by the eye. This occurrence gives rise to an exciting sense of powerlessness. Specially for De Ketelfactory, Schimmel has created ‘Black Sun’, a mural onto which a video animation is projected. A large white wall has been magically transformed into a moving, three-dimensional image.
distillation ‘In the wings of the universe’ – Karin van Pinxteren
Date: 8 November 2009
In collaboration with: Karin van Pinxteren, prof. dr. Harm Habing, Alex de Vries and ds. Jessa van der Vaart
Karin van Pinxteren. In the wings of the universe
‘As an artist I think in images, but I cannot conjure up an image to accompany the thought of the universe as a finite space. Although I contemplate the universe photographically, I cannot create anything physical. I think in terms of space, which is why my fascination lies mostly with the question of where and how space ends.’ Karin van Pinxteren speaks on the powerless relationship man has to the universe and the imagination that this unlocks in the artist.
Prof. dr. Harm Habing. Scientific research, too, is art
‘The now known size of the universe has become an unfathomable space in which, aside from the presence of the galaxy, there is a temperature of absolute zero. From the earth, we can see that universe at night. The disappearance of daylight makes the personal space smaller, but the space of the universe larger. We can no longer see what’s close by, but we can see much more in the distance. Through the ages, art and science have depicted visions and findings, as religious models, as scientific models, as narrative models.’ Astronomer prof. dr. Harm Habing speaks on the influence of worldview and profession on our imagination of the universe.
Alex de Vries. Hope, faith and love
‘Science and faith are about the same thing: that which we don’t know. Science approaches this unknown territory rationally through the gathering of knowledge, which is then comparatively studied through versatile experiments, and methodically filed. Faith cannot be proven. “Truth” in religion is as inadvertent as the giants we mention in the same breath in art: the beautiful and the good.’ Writer, advisor and publisher Alex de Vries speaks on the purpose of life.
Ds. Jessa van der Vaart. Heaven and earth
‘When we think about the universe, the Bible says: “heaven and earth”. Undoubtedly, the Bible-writers, when using the word “heaven” were implying the space above our heads. But that’s not all. Heaven is mostly an image, a symbol for the obscurity of God. He is hidden from the human eye.’ Theologist and preacher Jessa van der Vaart speaks on our image of God and heaven.
distillation ‘Be a good Servant’ – Roland Schimmel
Date: 13 December 2009
In collaboration with: Wouter van Riessen, Kinke Kooi, Ton van der Laaken, Alex de Vries, Karin van Pinxteren and Roland Schimmel
Roland Schimmel:
“I met Om Bing in 1983 when I spent 4 months in Solo, Central Java. He owned an acupuncture practice and was a master of martial arts and Zen. He rid me of a persistent sinus infection within a few weeks and in passing shared with me some of his ideas on how to lead a good life; conversations wich left a deep impression on me. During one such conversation, on the subject of women, he recommended: ‘be a good servant’. This phrase has always lingered at the back of my mind.The subject flared up in my memory once more upon seeing performances by Karin van Pinxteren, in which she acts as a hostess in her own exhibitions: she appears to be in a serving and hospitable role, but is she really, when she literally labels her audience with a stamp on the hand as ‘part of my collection’ …?
I chose ‘Be a good Servant’ as my motto for an afternoon of conversations and music in the context of de Ketelfactory’s lecture series ‘the Distillation’.
Polarity is the leading question this afternoon, on a number of levels:
- the body at the service of a Platonic ‘world of ideas’ (‘idea’ as a present perfect to perception);
- the mind as a reflection on – and in the service of physical survival;
- nature as the mistress of all art (Cézanne: ‘être un miroir parfait’);
- art as a guide and shining light for life;
- theory and practice;
- feminine and masculine energy in art.
I have an afternoon in mind that highlights polarity from the perspective of its complementary afterimage.”
video portrait
publication
‘Encounter #2, second edition’ is accompanied by two publications, ‘Karin van Pinxteren’ and ‘Roland Schimmel’. From the opening words by Winnie Teschmacher:
About Karin van Pinxteren: “De Ketelfactory has been transformed into a spacious podium, governed by connection and seclusion, Van Pinxteren’s themes. This total artist’s passion has shone through in the collaboration towards a fascinating Distillation. You will find the echoes of the roads travelled in this publication.”
order (Karin van Pinxteren)
About Roland Schimmel: “The painting and projection together give a new perception every moment: from chaos to rest, from many images to one smooth image. Time becomes a minor factor. It takes you into a world of light and space, and that only happens by surrendering to your own perception.”
order (Roland Schimmel)
articles (in Dutch)
Het rode tapijtje nodigt je ten dans – Peter Henk Steenhuis in Trouw
Zo kijken onze ogen – Peter Henk Steenhuis in Trouw