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

(c)image: M HKA
Drawing , Geheel: 51,8 x 45,1 cm, Tekening: 25,2 x 20,1 cm
east-indian ink, paper, pencil

“The line drawing is like a skeleton, a framework that has needed quite some time to become what it is. It is surrounded by possibilities, the flesh of thought. Colour indicates what is useful, what we may use our thoughts and our science for. Drawing is a form of understanding; it makes sure that we can narrow down our observations and make them manageable. Recurrent themes are the relation between Humankind and the animals, between intelligence and intuition, between human creation and technology, between self-image and human-made surroundings. This collection of drawings consists of a combination of pictures from the personal sphere, pictures from memory and imaginings and fragments from the surrounding image and word culture.”

AMVK