Sabine Rovers
Artists:
Sabine Rovers
For this project I have collected 44 common edible and medicinal plants growing in The Netherlands. From every plant I extracted the natural colour from its sap and printed the plant using the old anthotype printing technique. This technique uses only plant sap (which is naturally photosensitive) and sunlight to create a print. Every plant has been printed in its own pigment, eventually showing a forest of natural colours when exhibited together.
Esther Hoogendijk
The objects I create slowly change in form, color, and material over time under the influence of air movement, evaporation, decomposition, growth/life, or being touched. The work shows the passage of time and natural and human influences. The works are characterized by the fact that it always seems as if something has happened. Making the passing of time visible by working with natural processes fascinates me. I usually develop site-specific installations and sculptures.
Danièle Knirim
Since I fell in love with paper years ago, it has been my main material to work with. It started when i was browsing in a bookstore. I opened an old worn book and this particular page popped up. Spots of the water damage and beautiful colors of the aging process triggered my imagination. I imagined a face, made from pieces of these worn papers. And so I did. To this day this is my process.
Isabelle Backer
Sleeping Tree.
I portrayed an Albizia julibrissin, also called Persian Sleeping Tree because it closes its leaves when it gets dark. In China it is seen as the Tree of collective happiness. The flowers and bark of the Albizia were used early on as an antidepressant against sadness. ‘He gives joy and comfort, brings the eye to shine, the heart to life’, so….come and get this 'herbal prozac’.
In the creation of these works no parts of the tree were harmed in any way. All the leaves are still attached, waving their happy wave on the hill it is situated at.
Also a film will be shown in the expo made by Isabelle Backer with music created by Laura Spichtig, who will do a live performance in the weekend of July 4/5, time TBA.
Total sensory immersion in nature
Even AI agrees that trees and plants demonstrably make us calmer thanks to a combination of psychological and biological mechanisms. They lower the stress hormone cortisol, reduce heart rate, and stimulate the nervous system associated with relaxation.
And naturally, countless studies have been conducted on this from various angles and by skilled people too.
And that is why an extra focus on nature seems so important in these times. We hurried, stressed, and busy people could really use the stillness it brings.
In this exhibition, you will encounter very diverse work by four female artists who approach and use this theme in their own unique way. Immerse yourself in these images created with care through photography, film, anthotype prints, collages of vintage paper, slowly changing objects, and sculptures. And who knows, you might emerge a changed person.
Represented artists: Sabine Rovers, Esther Hoogendijk, Danièle Knirim, Laura Spichtig en Isabelle Backer
Open June 20 and 21, 11.00 till 17.00 during the open garden weekend in Den Haag ‘Struinen in Haagse Tuinen'
Ongoing until July 5th, with a special musical performance in the weekend of July 4/5, for updates about times TBA.
Duinstraat 57, The Hague
Banner image by Isabelle Backer
Esther Hoogendijk
