Middle Gate

    NLEN

    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

    Back
    (c)video still: AMVK
    Nursing Care, in Melancholy Stupor, 1999
    Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven / AMVK
    Video , variable dimensions, interactive
    computer animation

    "Theme: melancholy and how to make it a positive force.

    The animation was the main theme of “Nursing Care, in Melancholy Stupor”, the fourth show of the HeadNurse cycle, which started in 1995. The HeadNurse cycle is a “Sex & Technology” project, using the therapeutic strength in beauty and has as subtitle: “Elasticity at Home”. It is an alchemistic attempt to undisclose the corrupted alliance in massmedia between the commercialization of lust and the banalisation of violence.

    Using the structure of Baroque music and philosophy, the movies of “Nursing Care, in Melancholy Stupor” are impregnated by the essence of Leibnizer philosophy: the criterium of substance is its activity, its power.

    The alchemist state of this work is situated in the phase of ‘glowing out’: the battle between dark and light, the diagonale. Mixing virtuosity, calculation and emotion."

    − AMVK

    Sound: samples of soundtrack of Bladerunner + environemental sound

    Contributors: Marc Vanrunxt and Tom Barman

    Interactivity: Danny Devos

    Producer: Club Moral

    Back