2011. A collaboration with artists: Miriam Lombaert and Mieke Wessecker. In our current exhibition, we delve into the profound realms of human imagination, inspired by the philosophies of Merleau Ponty and Bachelard, two monumental figures in French phenomenology. Our journey, unfolding over six enriching contact moments, has consistently gravitated around a central theme, yet the paths we've explored have been as varied and intricate as the human mind itself.

Drawing primarily from Gaston Bachelard's seminal work, 'The Poetics of Space', particularly his chapter on 'Shells', we immerse our audience in an experience that transcends mere intellectual engagement. Bachelard’s exploration of the imagination as a force that operates in the delicate interplay between mind and matter, logos and opsis, subject and object, word and image, sets the foundation for our exhibition. The chapter on shells is not just a treatise on spatial poetics; it is an invitation to an empathetic reading, urging an immediate, visceral perception and direct experience. It demands an active participation of the imagination, acting as a bridge between the world of words and the realm of images.

Our exploration is centered around the concept of 'slow continuous formation', a phrase that encapsulates the essence of our artistic inquiry. This theme is a guiding light in our quest to understand how imagination shapes our perception of the material world. The exhibition is an experiential journey, inviting the viewer to engage actively, allowing their imagination to sketch its own portrait in confrontation with the physical world.

Bachelard’s work on shells brings to light the fascinating interplay of enlargements, the dialectics of large and small, the hidden and the manifest, concealment and revelation. He draws on examples from scientists, artists, and philosophers to illustrate the poetic details that, under the influence of imagination, can suddenly fill an entire space. This idea mirrors our fundamental fascination, primal experience, and original imagination that 'the shell' elicits in us.

In curating this exhibition, our aim is to create an experience trail for the viewer. The layout is designed to gradually work on the visitor's imagination, promoting a mode of reading that allows for the slow formation of images in the consciousness. We consciously avoid overtly clear imagery, as it can stifle the imaginative process. Instead, we foster a space where imagination and perception coalesce, inviting each visitor to embark on a unique and personal journey through the landscapes of their mind.