Auteur: admin

Is our body just a puppet of the soul

Is our body just a puppet of the soul

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As the leaves slowly turn into gold I realise how fast time has flown. Summer break feels like yesterday and even a  year has passed since I picked up my professional camera again. The leaves that turn into gold remind me of how much I grown. Well is grown the right word? Isn’t it just redefine myself just looking of what I really love found old passions back, closed chapters that fit me. We mostly think we have to hold on to a lot of things. But why? Just because we think others expect us  so we just please another? Just a puppet do what we think what we think that others expect from us.

So on a beautiful autumn Saturday me and my youngest son Oliver (7) when on a local art day. There was an exhibition of the local photoclub with work of grandpa and there is an exhibition in the local museum about puppets. Oliver has a big love for puppet theatre, music and art.  So a nice way to visit exhibitions with a child. It always brings a different view with it.

Photoclub exhibition

Every year the local photoclub Focoss had an exhibition this year in the local art gallery K26. To be honest I  don’t favour these kind of exhibitions. First a gallery and second a photoclub. Yes I love to see how others play with their camera and share knowledge. But I always have to go in “I’m a wise documentary photographer” mode. This also because of my dad is a member and love to share with proud my study’s. The second thing in a gallery people always want to argue about art with you. In a museum you can be in you own bubble without questions.

But my opinion on photoclubs and gallery’s doesn’t do justice on the quality of the exhibition. Fotocoss is a high quality photoclub the exhibition showed a small glimpse of there portfolio’s. There wasn’t a connecting theme. You can always see a nice mix of people who are only focus on technique and other focus on the art of storytelling. But beauty comes alive when someone find the mix of it. When the right technique and the story merge then magic will happen. With some of the photographer you see that mix and I hope they grow into a bigger stage.
A photoclub exhibition is not to judge their quality’s but to mirror you own to see a fast variety of photography of different levels and styles. But it’s a nice mirror to reflect your own work and focus.

Puppet Masters

In the museum Jan Cunen there is a exhibition called Puppet Masters. There where parts of the local puppet theatre  but also more conceptual art. To be honest the exhibition was surprising intersecting and different than I expected. Yes there where some pieces about control of the society but also about how we see our body as a puppet.

My son Oliver enjoyed the exhibition and funny thing I noticed it how the worker keep an eye on children. Oliver doesn’t dare to touch art, but they see just a uncontrolled child (yes I keep a clear eye on him). But still they want to control a child by starting conversations.  Is that how they see him? An uncontrolled puppet that needs to be controlled. Why? Just because it’s a child so it says to them: If I can’t control it, it will wrack the exhibition.


So fascinating we can walk thru art and just wander what controls us? The people in the room? They way we look to art? Our knowledge about a subject.  In the end It’s just how we see ourselves is what we notice. Our criticizing eye is a reflection of the level of how hard we make it ourselves, how we challenge ourselves. Our body only listen to the command of mind and the mind only listens to the command of the soul

Helene

Home is where passion and the heart cross

Home is where passion and the heart cross

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September flew by but still I found a quick moment for a blog. Early September I had a quick trip to the UK and not just a trip one to McLaren MTC. Yes something you might not know about me I’m a race loving girl without a drivers license.  But my dad is a big lover of McLaren F1 team and founded the first McLaren fanclub long before I was even born. So I remember a lot of Sunday’s sport in the morning and laying on the couch and watch F1 with my dad in the afternoon. Now I’m a mom of two boys so half the house is for McLaren and the other half is Alonso fan. But to be honest this trip for me wasn’t for  McLaren (yes MTC is amazing) but for me it was a journey I wanted to make with my father because we always support each other in our passion.

Woking
It has been a long time ago till the last time I was in the UK. So to see the cottages again was a lovely sight. But when I was in the mall in Woking yes it was bigger but just like every city shops you can even find in the Netherlands but we found a view different ones.  I missed the old little shops  no it doesn’t have to be all Harry Potter like but just a few old fashioned stores I would have love to see. But we watched F1 in a pub with a great atmosphere. I you could even cheer for Max Verstappen between all the McLaren fans.

MTC
Monday morning we went to McLaren MTC. We had to go to a special parking place and a shuttle bus drove us to the VIP entrance. And yes it’s what they say when you drive down that road it’s like a big wow factor. The building is so impressive in it design. We had a photoshoot with last year car. And during out coffee break we saw Zak Brown entering the building. The place was impressive and amazing to see how they build the racing cars. To see alle the trophy’s and the factory where they build the street cars.  All the cars are made by hand. For me it was impressive and I saw how much my dad loves this place. It’s so impressive and big also with a gallery of old cars. Really a trip never to forget.

After MTC we also went to Mercedes World. Not as impressive but a nice way to finish this car loving trip. Sadly a short trip because we had to drive back to catch our train with the car.

Home
Five years ago I found my own passion back. And as a teenager my dad always supported my love for music, he has a big passion for music to. He took me to bands like  U2, Nightwish, Within Temptation,  Deine  Lakaien, Blackmore’s Night, Peter Gabriel. Some of those artist were really my passion and some his but we both liked it. But at one point we went together again and something interesting happened I was like I’m back “home” and he was like I think it’s my last time here. For me this was it with my trip to McLaren I loved it and really happy I went and really wanted to have this experience with my dad.  I will treasure it the rest of my life. But I also realised this is his thing his “home” and my journey takes me to other passions and people.


So home isn’t just where the heart is. Home is where passion and the heart cross.

Helene

Connect the stars

Connect the stars

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Summer blog this one is always the hardest to pick a subject. After a few weeks of and doing fun things it’s hard to pick a subject. Shall I write about my vacation to Nurnberg or dedicate a blog about the Wicker ritual at Castlefest. What about my visit to Schloss Moyland and the Marina Abramovic & MAI exhibition. Or are they not so far apart? And is it all about connection? Embrace and let go, breath in and breath out.

So my summer was a magical evening in Nurnberg a concert of Deine Lakaien that felt it was directed by the universe. With a thunderstorm that delayed the show but with the perfect timing of the sun breaking through and bats flying over as the sun went down.  That brings me to Castlefest festival (pictures) where they have the wicker ritual. It was 10 years ago after my first time I put something in the wicker. A ritual with some rain before it started just like with the concert. But magical during the show. The wicker is a personal ritual where people put something in the wicker to let go. Because of the theme I decided to let go and embrace. Embrace myself and continue on my path.


Between everything I went to the exhibition of Marina Abramovic & MAI. Personally she’s one of my favourite modern artist and always fascinated me during my art studies.  The way  Marina Abramovic connect how her work connect people. Her student from MAI who performed work that connect Abramovic and Beuys and then to the audience. And yes you can argue on the personal visions and believe. I also do not always agree with the material or form they use. But in the core it’s all about connection and reflection.

You were not just a visitor. You were my life.
– Marina Abrovic about Uley 2012

You might ask yourself: Helene you had a fun summer but still how does it connect? Wel for me I see a clear connection between all three events. It’s all about connection and love. A reflection to connecting with yourself. From to love yourself to  breathing from you core. It’s all about you just you being you. Meet people connect to people. For a year I did a lot of walks and made pictures and later I found out it were walks to connect to myself. Sometimes some walks along other times I’m alone. But it’s just like life if we dare to connect we can grow and see the most beautfitul things.


The starts in sky are like dots we just need to connect them. We just need to look up and don’t be afraid to connect.

Helene

Breath


Marina Abramovic & MAI im Dialog mit Joseph Beuys

Photo impression of the exhibition.

Ollie Alpaca 2019

Ollie Alpaca 2019

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From the old box 2019

Exhibition Weg naar de vrijheid, 75 jaar bevrijding van oss (way to freedom, 75years of liberty in Oss), Jan Cunen Museum, Oss (NL) 2-6-2019 till 22-9-2019

Ollie Alpaca
2019
Made from Yarn (scheepjes Namaste)

The alpaca represents love and determination. The alpaca is a guide to help you climb the highest mountains to find your path. The alpaca can carry your burton and make you happy with their soft character. The colours red and green stand for nature and power. Purple for the divine.The softness of the yarn represents rest.


The alpaca represents the journey to freedom a devine journey to inner rest and luck.

Go where the heart tells you

Go where the heart tells you

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Sometimes you have to go to a place just because you have to. So we talked at home about visiting Kevelaer (DE). Well I visit Kevelaer a lot but just for some quick shopping like many Dutch people we do not visit the city centre. But this time on the Summer Solstice we went to the Basilica of Kevelaer.

So my personal pilgrim journey brought me to this place. I rarely go to church and if I go it’s just like a tourist and not to pray. But it felt like this was the moment to go not to pray just to see. We arrived the square exactly at 8 when the bells for the morning prayers started with the sun from behind the basilica on my face and the church service near the Maria Chapel on the square started. We listened to the the preach and deiced to go to the basilica. There was no one inside just us and the magic of the moment and it remined me of my family and my past.


Next we decided to go to the Kerzenkapelle (candle chapel) it felt more like me in the present that on my personal pilgrim my light already has awakened. And again no one else was there.

The third we crossed the mercy chapel. When I entered the chapel only I could think of the Benedictus song. Under  the alter there was a little box that cought my eye. With still the Benedictus on repeat in my head. Later I found out that the remains of Canisius where in the box. And my bone transplantation that gave me the confidence to sing was in the Dutch Canisius hospital. But still standing there in the chapel no one else there I sang. Just sang not loud not much but let it go what blocked me.

”Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini”  – Karl Jenkins

Back on the square the service still there. The last words ready to leave just like the visitors of the service left the square.
We walked around the town and got back to the square. Tho the Maria Chapel with doors open to welcome us. Mesmerized by it’s beauty and all the details. I decided to pray and I never pray. But it was a moment that caught me a moment I needed just within me and again there was no one there but us.

Later we walked in nature a place I always feel more home. But still somehow I needed to visit Kevelaer just for me just because it needed to be on my personal pilgrim. Not for religion just for personal reflection. So now time to continue on my path and build new chapters.

With love,
Helene Smits

New chapter so a new tattoo

New chapter so a new tattoo

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Yes I almost had to wait a year but now I have my tattoo. A year ago was working on the Armed Man with the Osse Opera and as a daughter of a veteran it was a piece that really touches my heart. But It was also a period where I thought a lot about the Balkans. As we can always do something with our hair I decided to make a custom hairpin of the Vergina Sun. I talked about it with a friend and thought why not as a tattoo because it had a double meaning for me but not on the way it mostly used.

The Vergina sun
Why the Vergina sun, it’s mostly known as a symbol of Macedonia and dates back to Alexander the Great. No I’m not Macedonian but I fell in love of the symbolism behind it. But also It’s for me also a refence to the album Porta Macedonia of Veljanov which become my personal favourite album.  It was realised in a time where I worked as a photographer and remember that we were invited to the album release. That was a few days after my bone transplantation surgery in my jaw. My dad drove me to the cd presentation in Berlin and the next day he had to go the Airport to welcome some colleagues that just came home from the Afghanistan war. A year later my dad had to go to Afghanistan for six months. So that album became a really personal album that helped me in that period.

But the Vergina sun came back on my path while I was working on The armed Man. But the referees to the symbolism behind the sun the 16 ray’s that references wholeness and the centre the rose of love and strength. The sun of the Helios and even my names is French is original is Greek, Hélène (Helena) which means torch or light  that goes back to his origin to the Helios the sun. 

Bianca Stücker
So yes if I go for a tattoo that I was overthinking to oblivion than also overthink the artist. Well I did not had to think long on this. But even I had to wait for almost a year for my turn it was worth the wait and more room to overthink the tattoo itself.
Bianca has a special place in my heart. She is such a great an creative person. I knew her from The Violet Tribe and even had the honour to dance with them a few times as a guest. She has also been one of my dance teachers and  I admire her support for woman in all kind of shapes and styles. She showed me that I can shine on stage and to not be afraid of it. So my choice was easily made to ask her to help me with my personal reminder of dreams.

Tattoo

So the centre of my tattoo is the sun accomplished with a  small moon. The moon which stands for my feminine side and three dots that make it whole are for my tree children. On the other side a star of good luck, or is it a second sun. Because we can argue about the sun and the stars but overlook that the sun is a star.

So this is my personal life in a tattoo on my right arm an everlasting personal reminder: to never give up on dreams again. Yes I once gave them all up. But in my darkest hour someone shows me that the sun would rise again.


What is your reminder not to give up on your dreams?


With love,
Helene

More infomation about Bianca Stücker
https://www.bianca-stuecker.com


From the archive me with The Voilet Tribe. Lats two of ap perfomance I did on Oriental Tea Time.

I made a song!! Secret of the sun

I made a song!! Secret of the sun

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So last winter I wrote little song text just a small one. But me wouldn’t be me if I would toss and turn about it. So first place I had an idea how to sing it but can I do it? I came at a point where I decided not to fool myself with my own boundaries. I always tell people to express themselves and me I always block myself. But there is no failure because there is nothing to lose. If you don’t start you will never know what you could have done. So I stop running and start to listen to myself and create. You can only find your own style by experimenting even you have a few materials if you are creative you can make something out of it that shows your vision.  So that’s what I did just start to create I knew what I want and went for it.

I can write a thousand words why I wrote it and analyse the words I have written. But I wrote it just because it felt write just to share a small insight in my head.

Video



To finish it of I made a conceptual videoclip to add with it. For me the process felt nostalgic and brought me back to my studies audio visual and art. The big different between now and then, now I allow to work raw and expressive. And while I’m writing my blog I have a nostalgic 80-90’s playlist on my tv where now and then a video pops up. The best times for videoclips when it was an art on it’s own. Raw sometimes strange but all to express the story behind the music or to capture the vibe. Now days it’s over commercialize and perfected to nothing but a nice slick promotional.

If you would ask me ten years ago to make a video with the same song it would be completely different. Probably a picture perfect video with fairytale like locations. But now I chose to make it raw a thing teachers during my art studies almost begged me to do. So now I just let me self-go and did it.

So here it is my experimental song with my experimental video. I hope you like it or it might inspire you.

Just be yourself
with love

Helene

Secret of the sun written by Helene Smits
Produced by Bjorn Grunveld
Vocals & Theremin: Helene Smits
Keyboad: Bjorn Grunveld
Piano: Oliver Grunveld
Video by Helene Smits