Press Release 20 September 2022 |
Museum De Lakenhal presents the Imagine Intuition exhibition
With works by Lonneke Gordijn/Studio Drift – Jos Agasi – Dikker+ Oostrik – Bram Ellens – Kevin Osepa – Janet Vollebregt
*Artists have created new intuition-themed installations especially for theImagine Intuition* exhibition. Imagine Intuition can be seen in Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden from 14 October 2022 to 15 January 2023. **
To mark the occasion of Leiden European City of Science Museum De Lakenhal is exploring the concept of intuition this year, together with artists and scientists. Now that technology and data increasingly determine our choices in society, a counter-movement has also emerged; a movement that is seeking a different way of connecting and deciding. Intuition is now also a current topic in science.
Art assignment
For Imagine Intuition the museum gave artists the assignment to produce new works. Lonneke Gordijn/Studio Drift, Jos Agasi, Dikker+Oostrik, Bram Ellens, Kevin Osepa and Janet Vollebregt translated intuition into installations that inspire action, response or contemplation.
In this exhibition, visitors come face to face with machines with human features, become part of interactive installations, can immerse themselves in other worlds and rituals, and reflect on their own relationship between body and mind. Tickets are available now from lakenhal.nl/imagineintuition.
About the artists
Chance and time are the most important aspects of the installation by visual artist Jos Agasi. For Imagine Intuition Agasi juxtaposed various aspects of his perception, setting his calm inner state of mind against the turmoil resulting from external influences. They converge in the centre on a sculptured biocanvas grown by Agasi himself.
The installations by cognitive scientist Suzanne Dikker and artist Matthias Oostrik exist by the grace of visitors. Art and science flow together in the mobile and interactive presentations. Their new installation Harmonic Dissonance: Phantom explores the paradox of the measurability/immeasurability of the intuitive mind.
The relationship between people, robots and technology is key in the sculptures by Bram Ellens in which he ascribes human or animal values to machines. His installations seldom leave observers cold. In Imagine Intuition Ellens opts for the classic representation of mother and child, which he sees as a primal image for intuitive relationships and communication. For the first time, Ellens presents two robots interacting: a technically challenging exercise.
For many years, Studio DRIFT (Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta) has used sculptures, installations and performances to pose fundamental questions about life. In 2021, Lonneke Gordijn felt the need to reflect on her own work and working method. She examined the intuition theme together with Andrea Evers, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Leiden, and created a new installation, Guidance of the lights, based on an intensive dialogue between the artist and scientist.
As film director and visual artist Kevin Osepa is a storyteller. His identity is formed by the spirituality, rituals and culture of Curaçao. In a full-wall installation, he investigates the concept of intuition based on his family history and his fascination for giving intuitive meaning to everyday products.
Janet Vollebregt aims to offer people environments or atmospheres in which they can find a sense of calm as well as the awareness that everything is connected. Her design philosophy is rooted in her technical training as architect and in her lifelong study and practice of Eastern and Western philosophy and therapy. She produced two installations for this project: one as access to the museum and one to close the exhibition.
Art and science
This exhibition is a unique interconnection between scientific and artistic research, which is reflected in the cooperation between artists and academics in realising new works. During Imagine Intuition Andrea Evers, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Leiden, will be investigating how today’s artists and scientists view intuition and represent this in their work. A private Lorentz workshop will take place in October prior to the exhibition, entitled Beyond science and art: The role of intuition. Artists and scientists will be exploring the concept of intuition over the course of three days.
Activities
The museum will also be organising exploratory activities for this exhibition, including artist talks, performances and workshops. And for the first time, monthly evening events will be organised under the Lakenhal Late banner, with different artists forming part of the programme at each event. The ‘intuition’ theme will also be explored during a Winter School in collaboration with The School of Life and in a lecture series with Leiden University’s Studium Generale. All activities can be found here.
With thanks to
This exhibition has been curated by contemporary art curator, Nicole Roepers. Form concept by Anton Spruit. Imagine Intuition came to fruition in response to the European City of Science Leiden 2022 and in co-operation with Andrea Evers, Professor of Health Psychology. With thanks to Mondriaan Fonds, Stichting Stokroos, Municipality of Leiden and Leiden University.
About Museum De Lakenhal
Museum De Lakenhal is the city of Leiden’s visual arts, history and craft museum. Like the city, we combine a classic look with a contemporary and quirky character.
Note for the editor | Not for publication
For questions and interview requests, please contact Harriot Voncken, PR & Online Communications Officer | h.voncken@lakenhal.nl | +31 (0)6-34 36 41 91.
Images for publication
