Three different curatorial proposals give shape to three different exhibitions integrating perspectives in-between three countries.
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In the Euregio, the first European Region, local foundation The Artist and the Others works cross borders to create connections, support emerging artists and give voice to young curators.
In one of their recent projects, three different curatorial proposals have been selected to give shape to three exhibitions. The project is called ‘Art Through the Window’.
Integrating perspectives in-between three countries, ‘Art Through the Window’ tackles issues faced by young professionals.
Indeed, starting from the lack of exhibition spaces in the city of Maastricht, the project gives local artists the chance to show their work in a central location that is visible 24/7: De Meldkamer (Capucijnenstraat 21). As well as providing artists with this new exhibition space, it gives young curators the opportunity to develop their experimental curatorial concepts.
Currently, the space in Maastricht hosts the final exhibition of the project: ‘Something is not quite right’, curated by German artist and curator Ana Sous.
The exhibition, open until the end of July, draws connections between global situations, politics and personal experiences, looking at how these levels come together shaping the way we perceive the world. It showcases works by artists who explore the different ways in which we can perceive the world, circling around the sensation that ‘something is not quite right’.
According to curator Ana Sous, we may or may not be aware of this, but each truth is as valid as our own experience. There are infinite ways of understanding reality.
“How can we question our reality, and be open to different ways of perceiving the world?”
Bringing together different artistic positions, the exhibition features the work of Amber Lalieu, Flora Lemmens, Marie Claire Krell and Joep Caenen – who especially created a ‘hut’, a setting built in-situ which visitors are invited to interact with directly.
In their artistic practices, the artists explore different ways in which we can perceive the world, reflecting this perspective in their work. The aim is to invite visitors to wonder, question and consider different understandings, recognizing the limits of perception.
“(…) sudden acts of terror have burst into our consciousness with the global pandemic, the emerging far-right movement, and the war in Ukraine. The lingering terror laying in front of us hit us hard. The illusionary sense of peace collapsed, and the sense of unease felt by many over the past years manifested itself through concrete and inescapable events. Greta Thunberg said “I want you to panic” three years ago. Maybe let’s try to look and question first.” (curator, Ana Sous)
Opening the series, in April 2022 Dutch curator Linda Köke presented ‘No man’s Land’, questioning the issues and mechanics connected to the appropriation of land. It presented the works of four artists – Floor Martens, Pleun Moons, Karin Peulen and Sanne Vaassen.
“Can we claim ownership over ungraspable things - like the surface of our skin, the waves of the sea or the soil of the land? Are these even ours to claim, or do they belong to no one? And what does it mean if people want to claim spaces as their own?”
The exhibition combined the poetical and the critical, the concrete and the elusive, using the layering of images, transformation and storytelling as a way to raise questions about ownership, nationalism and restrictions. The artists and curator reflected on their presence in the exhibition space, reflecting on the restrictions connected to the act of ‘claiming this space’, making it their own.
The second exhibition, taking place in June 2022, was curated by Belgium curator Riet Meeus. Its title was ‘Think Again’. Developing as a dialogue between artists and curator, the starting point was the materiality, physicality, and the context of each artists’ work.
The title of the exhibition was taken from a book by organizational psychologist Adam Grant. Defining the art of rethinking, according to him, different factors influence the way we see and experience things and, since these are subject to constant fluctuation, our perception can change. Taking from this idea, the display developed over the course of the exhibition, constantly challenging our point of view and opening up new ways of seeing and interpreting each artists’ artistic practice.
At the opening, ‘Think Again’ included works by two artists, Jules Coumans and Famke Storms. During the course of the exhibition each artist invited someone else to dialogue with their work. Artists Dirk Bours and Nieke Lemmens added their works, and their own point of view, to the display influencing the exhibition as a whole.
Each curatorial concept presented a unique contribution, inspired directly from the nature and history of the unique geographical area, and the richness of living and working across borders in the Euregio, between the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.
