Ode to Home (2019-2024)

Part I - An Ode to Home

In 2019, the seeds of "An Ode to Home" were planted, where I begun chronicling the personal stories of seven families residing on Meerweg Street in Overschild, where eighty percent of homes, including three on Meerweg, faced demolition due to earthquake damage. I delved into their stories, realizing that these homes transcended mere structures; they held the imprints of dreams, desires, and love, sentiments impossible to pack into a suitcase. Through pictures and audio recordings, I captured a glimpse into the very soul of these homes, preserving the intangible.

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Image Description: This image portrays the interior from Klaasje Pens house, on the day her husband has his birthday. The following morning Klaasjes home got demolished.

Image Description: In this image you see the one of the families packing up the bricks from her former home to install them as a tangible memory into the construction from her new home. In several days following her home got demolished

The day after the exhibition closed at the beginning of may, the home of Meerweg 6 was demolished, including with the whole exhibition of Ode to Home inside ushering the project into the next chapter Ode to Home II.

Part II - Memory Museum

On April 7 was the premiere from my exhibition Ode to Home in the home of Meerweg 6. Meerweg 6 was the former home from Gert and Ellen De Vries for forty years. They are currently living in their new home which has been built behind their old house. I converted their old home into an audio visual installation becoming a memory museum. I curate their home with a mosaic of memories (photos + audio) that I recorded with the families during the four years. The viewer entering into the exhibition takes on the role as the laster visitor entering into a time capsule of memories.