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".

Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven / AMVK

Bruikleen M HKA van Stichting Beeldende Kunst Middelburg/De Vleeshal, image: (c) M HKA
Concept of Anxiety, 1993
Mixed Media

Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven adapts two books of fabric samples. On each patch she combines a drawing of a woman in a voluptuous, seductive pose with such words as: ‘action’ or ‘conduire le mental’. These images of naked pin-ups are combined with concepts from widely diverse contexts, such as advanced technology, anatomy or psychology. The connection between the words and the images, which appear to have nothing in common, disrupts the usual and familiar meaning of these words and images.

'A' words on the textile samples:

absoluut
abstract
absurd
action
actuality
adam
affect
age
alteration
ambiguity
angels
annihilatie
animal
an sich
anxiety
art