The exhibition project Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna is a collaboration between M HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) and the cultural centre de Werft in Geel. Middle Gate II is the follow up to the exhibition Middle Gate, curated by Jan Hoet in Geel in 2013. The exhibition concept is closely tied to the legend of the holy Dymphna, saint of the possessed, the mentally ill and patroness against epilepsy and insanity. The legend of Dymphna shares a strong connection to the identity of Geel, "the charitable city".

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Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven / AMVK

(c)image: AMVK

Stress = (proviand+politik) x (jugend+poison), 1981

Installation , 250 x 60 cm

15 x paint on plexi, 5 x marker on leatherette, 5 x blueprints on paper

(Stress = (Provisions + Politics) × (Jugend + Poison)

"The paintings are installed as an equation, with images of women representing five different concepts. The concepts are linked to signs for everyday situations, with the Esperanto words denoting them joining in.

The installation is about sex, numbers, signs, text and recent developments in politics, agriculture and economy. By placing ideas side by side, I try to create clarity – for others, but also for myself. To understand why I make things. The intention is to conjure up a brainstorming intervention, to visually conjure up a field of information and association, to disconnect reality from the place where consciousness is not present. Raising awareness, it is in itself awareness of the now, and this by causing overstimulation, relying on the personal inhibition limit of each spectator separately. By using signs, words, languages, colours, materials: a mutual relationship of elements."

− AMVK

About the installation at Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels (BE), September 1981, 'Prijs Perspectieven 81':

"A. From the ceiling, off the wall, I presented 5 relations between notions:

On plexi-plates (13,5 x 28 cm), sex, numbers. (acryl, marker)-transparent.
Paintings on plexi-plates (pin-ups) completed with one of the notions stress, proviand, ... -the sum came in big on the wall. (tape, acryl, marker).
5 plexi-plates (black) and 5 florescent pieces of plastic with the most elementary parts of ‘life’, in form of signs and text in German and Esperanto.
On the floor 5 sheets of blueprint, printed from light to dark (100 x 150 cm) with each 5 identical establishments about development of polities, agriculture, economy.
On the floor also 5 white cards each with one combination of stress, proviand, ...

B. As well horizontal as vertical these elements were to be seen in series.

C. With black electricity-wire 1 connected the vertical series each different, so that the space was completely divided in a problematic way.

D. On the other side on the wall I wrote explaining texts, which were although not in direct relation with the series but maintaining the same train of thought.

E. For the audience an information-sheet was available."

− AMVK

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