Unveil. A traveling ritual act.
Finding your veiled thoughts and situations, that which keeps you from thinking and acting freely, that’s what this work is all about.
What are you hiding? And what exactly would you like to reveal? The repetition of a process of unveiling by different people in different places might bring us clarity.
What are you hiding? And what exactly would you like to reveal? The repetition of a process of unveiling by different people in different places might bring us clarity.
A ritual act, an act with soul.
My work ‘Unveil’ is a ritual act that is performed individually and shared in a community. As a participant, being witnessed will carry you. Together we create an intimate space in which your unveiling can take place. Full attention is always on the one person that’s experiencing their own unveiling. Witnesses can be present live or through the camera.
I like transparency, I like to be straightforward, raw, to the point. And yet sometimes I feel constricted, I hold back, I retreat, I suddenly become quiet. Why? My fearful side tells me ‘It’s safer this way’. I think it’s a way to protect myself. But it’s also oppressive, and so dark, sad and very lonely… Do you know the feeling?
I like transparency, I like to be straightforward, raw, to the point. And yet sometimes I feel constricted, I hold back, I retreat, I suddenly become quiet. Why? My fearful side tells me ‘It’s safer this way’. I think it’s a way to protect myself. But it’s also oppressive, and so dark, sad and very lonely… Do you know the feeling?
As a traveling performance ritual, ‘Unveil’ searches for a process that allows us to step into the light collectively, to rid ourselves of the veils that constrict our freedom of expression.
Have you ever experienced something like this? An insight that feels like something’s clearing out? A sudden turn in the direction of your thoughts that lightens you up, as if you’re opening a window in your thinking universe. Suddenly a light breeze comes in, a thought that offers a fresh perspective. As if a weight gets lifted off your shoulders, the clouds suddenly clear, a veil between you and your reality suddenly disappears. All of a sudden you can see!
These unveiling moments can lead to personal breakthroughs we may want to cherish forever. Finding your veiled thoughts and situations, that which keeps you from thinking and acting freely, that’s what this work is all about. Let’s find out together what’s stopping you from doing what you want to do. Join us and write! Join us and perform! Join us and film!
These unveiling moments can lead to personal breakthroughs we may want to cherish forever. Finding your veiled thoughts and situations, that which keeps you from thinking and acting freely, that’s what this work is all about. Let’s find out together what’s stopping you from doing what you want to do. Join us and write! Join us and perform! Join us and film!
A performance with an exhibition.
The outcomes of this project will be exhibited in spring 2021. Your contributions can be shared on social media as part of an ongoing process, and they can become part of the final exhibition. I hope to be able to work with as many contributions as possible for my show, so spread the word, pass the suitcase along, and unveil!
Score: Unveil
4 steps: Research. Process your findings through drawing and/or writing on the veils. Film the unveiling ritual. Share and pass along.
Research
Drawing and/or writing your process out onto the veils
Filming the unveiling ritual
Sharing and passing along
4 steps: Research. Process your findings through drawing and/or writing on the veils. Film the unveiling ritual. Share and pass along.
Research
- You’ve received a suitcase with white veils, which have been drawn and written on, and a small notebook.
- Leaf through the notebook and observe the veils for as long as you like. What are the drawings and texts about?
- Sense and consider: do you notice any veiled thoughts in your own life? Do you remember moments or strategies of unveiling yourself? What is stopping you, what’s blurring your sight, and what brings clarity? Also ask yourself what you want to reveal. Is there something you’re keeping hidden, consciously or subconsciously? What’s weighing you down? What is hidden in the shadows?
- In response to the process, repeated by different people in different places, I will research whether there are elements we all have in common, elements that bring light to our situations. Revelations, thoughts, actions, situations… How do we reach clarity?
Drawing and/or writing your process out onto the veils
- What images come up? What did you experience during your research, did a transformation reveal itself to you?
- Process your findings by drawing and writing onto the veils. Use as much surface as you like, the veils can be fully ornamented with your thoughts and images. You don’t have to justify a single word or drawing. You can choose to plan ahead, or do this impulsively, whichever you prefer.
Filming the unveiling ritual
- Decide for yourself whether you’ll perform your ritual alone or in front of a live audience. In both cases, I recommend having your camera stationary.
- Instructions for your ritual:
- What the following process looks like is very personal. These are general guidelines, you can shape your ritual following your own preferences.
- Prepare yourself by draping the veils over your head, starting with the largest and ending with the smallest veil.
- Practice pulling the veils off your head one by one a few times. Be very aware of what you’re doing by repeating the same actions.
- Now you’re ready to be filmed.
- Focus your attention on the camera in a way that makes you feel good. Start by pulling the smallest veil off your head. One veil lighter. Take off the next veil, slowly you start to see more clearly. Keep going this way until you’re looking straight into the camera, without any obstacles between you and your witnesses.
- Allow this ritual to be an anchor for you. A process that reminds you of what it can mean for you to unveil yourself.
Sharing and passing along
- Post your video to your social media of choice, with the caption #unveil
- Not a fan of social media, but you’d like to contribute to my project and be part of the exhibition? You can send me the video through wetransfer.
- If you’d like you can write your name, the date, and a few words or a drawing in the notebook.
- Pass the suitcase along to someone you think would benefit from the process.
- The suitcase and its contents will be exhibited in spring 2021, the location will be published here soon.
What is holding you back? Mostly only thoughts....
A traveling ritual act.
I’m very curious to see and read what becomes of the veils after being passed along through many hands. Of course I’m also curious which shapes the unveiling ritual will take; I’m excited to see the videos. How do you interpret this action, what will be passed along, which personal touches will be given to the process? I can’t wait to send this project into the world and to see how it develops!
The notebook that accompanies the veils can be used to report your experience or to write down your name if you wish.
The notebook that accompanies the veils can be used to report your experience or to write down your name if you wish.