Hosting an Art Ceremony for the Theodora Niemeijer Prize in het Stedelijk Museum. In honour of Femke Herregraven, I transformed the masculine white cube of the Stedelijk Museum into an embodied feminine space, where art and words of praise could resonate with the depth of her practice.
To amplify the intention of the Theodora Niemeijer Prize, which is to illuminate and elevate the work of women artists and to strive for a more equitable playing field in the arts, I curated a hosting team composed of objects and designers, each embodying a feminine energy. The objects in my hosting team were attuned to Femke's work, aligned with nature and the overall intention of the award. Sunne, a light object by Marjan van Aubel, gently illuminated the space like the tip of a candle. Another Throw, a textile by Buro Belén, was integrated into cushions and embraced us in a shared, tactile warmth. Both pieces are part of the Stedelijk’s collection and created a presence that guests could genuinely feel. They held us, and one another, with quiet strength.
Guests were invited to step barefoot onto The Way, a woollen path that allowed them to ground themselves and transition into the ceremonial space. We gathered in an oval circle on cushions and benches, symbolising equality and unity. Among us stood Corrupted Air, a light-box artwork from the Stedelijk Museum collection by Femke Herregraven. The ceremony began with sparkling tea by FONDA, grounding us while simultaneously celebrating the occasion.
For this occasion, I created the Gedragen cushions, symbolising arms reaching out to hold space. Each cushion carried three guests, and together, they formed the four pillars of a tea house. One cushion, distinct in character, represented individuality within the collective. These cushions became part of my core hosting team, made possible by Stichting Niemeijer.
Deeply burnt cork objects by Corkinho grounded us in the presence of nature, their embrace creating a calming sphere. The sole man within the hosting team symbolised a balanced energy embracing the feminine. He silently held space, allowing the women to blossom, while attending to the cushions, sound, fragrance, and stillness that enveloped us.
Following the words of praise and reflections on the significance of the prize, I choreographed a ceremonial moment. Andrea, the initiator of the prize, stepped silently into the center of the circle carrying a pair of Japanese scissors, given to her by me. The ikebana arrangement of Mimosa, the flower of International Women's Day, by Uno Fujisawa, was held by an oval cork object, centered in stillness and reflecting the form of the gathering itself. Andrea carefully cut several branches, filled with the love and attention of the circle, and offered them to the honoured Femke Herregraven. As this moment unfolded, it was amplified by a transformation in light, from deep orange to light pink, and the sound of clapping hands and joy.
At the height of the ceremony, we listened to the soundscape Twenty Birds Inside Her Chest by the honoured artist, which filled the space with resonance. As we gathered in the circle, like the seawomen preparing for the dive, we descended into a shared oceanic resonance. After the ceremony, guests were invited to lunch, where they were able to engage in deep conversations, continuing the energy cultivated throughout the ceremony.
Commissioned by Stichting Niemeijer Fonds
ART JOURNEY JAPAN
Curating and hosting a journey to Japan for art patrons that afforded insight into the way Japanese culture appreciates and engages with art.
Japanese art appreciation, with its deep historical roots, can be traced back to the Tea Ceremony and Photography books. The Tea Ceremony was central in amplifying various art forms: Ikebana (the art of flower arrangement); ceramics; paper; fashion, architecture and landscaping. A key contribution of the Tea Ceremony lies in its definition of how to host an environment, where each element plays a role in amplifying the art of tea.
Patrons were invited to take part in a contemporary tea ceremony, learned the art of Ikebana, and embarked on an architectural tour of Omotesando to explore the distinctive Japanese approach to appreciating art. They learned key concepts such as ma (the space-in- between) and mu (nothingness/negative) in art. This afforded the patrons a better understanding of the art in Japan as we proceeded to visit galleries, the exhibition of Chiharu Shiota, Enoura Observatory, gallery and restaurant by Hiroshi Sugimoto, and the Setouchi Islands - Naoshima & Teshima.
A second focus of the trip was Japanese Photography books. A lecture by Ivan Vartanian, founder of Goligia publishing and publisher of an art book by a previous Outset-supported artist, provided the starting point. We then visited several renowned art book stores, a photography agency, and the most well-known paper supplier.
The 10-day journey spanned from Tokyo to the Enoura Observatory and then to the Setouchi Islands - Naoshima & Teshima
In April 2023, we presented our research Hosting a Resonant Space in the Arts at Buro Stedelijk during their 1st Manifestation Listening Sessions. In January 2024, we brought this theory into practice with Hosting Darkness at Buro Stedelijk.
Hosting Darkness was an evening in which we shared how hosting can bring forth a resonant encounter with the mycelium landscape and dried vegetable sculptures by Don Yaw Kwaning within the exhibition Descent into Fungal. By listening deeply to what the art, the space, and the season called for, we created a sphere of calmness, focus, intimacy, and resonance.
As we dimmed the lights at the entrance and throughout the exhibition, an elegant lantern, provided by light designer Viabizunno, illuminated the center of the gathering. Guests were greeted with mushroom miso soup, made from the fruits of mycelium, to ground them. Upon opening their miso package, each guest received a piece of mycelium wisdom, drawn from 20 insights gathered during our research.
At the entrance, Berber welcomed guests after their soup and invited them in small groups to follow her into the exhibition space. Before entering, she guided them on how to tune into the space. Inside the darkened exhibition, I illuminated the mycelium and sculptures with a torch-like light, moving slowly and continuously to greet each guest openly and allow encounters to unfold naturally. The light both guided and reflected their movements as they explored. My continuous movement was inspired by my practice of Gaga dance and a workshop with Marina Abramović, Cleaning the House.
The evening hosted over 100 guests, many profoundly touched by the mycelium landscape and sculptures. The manifestation underlined the significance of hosting in the arts.
Together with Berber, we researched and developed the concept and shared the words of wisdom. My role in the project included photography, designing the invitations and miso soup packaging, commissioning Uno, coordinating lighting with Viabizunno, and performative hosting. Berber led the writing of texts, communication with Buro Stedelijk, and the responsibility of hosting the transition.
HOSTING DARKNESS
HOSTING ART ENCOUNTERS
CURATING, CREATING, AND HOSTING GENUINE ARTISTIC GATHERINGS, OCCASIONS, AND CEREMONIES WITH ART.
“Resonance is produced only when the vibration of one body stimulates the other to produce its own frequency”
“Resonance requires a vibratory medium; resonant relationships are possible only in mutually accommodating resonant spaces”
Hartmurt Rosa, Resonance
The way we enter and feel within a space shapes our openness and our capacity to form meaningful connections with ourselves, the art, and each other. Hosting an embracing space creates the conditions for resonance with art to emerge.
Through attention and inner stillness, we open to deeper encounters, cultivate inner wisdom, and bring forth genuine joy. This is true in many aspects of life, just as it is with art.
My approach to hosting begins with creating a space of intentional transition—a space that invites stillness, amplifies the presence of the artwork, and encourages each guest to open and speak from their own voice. These qualities allow resonance to emerge, and together they strengthen one another.
Hosting is a dynamic interplay between the presence of architecture, objects, gestures, ourselves, and each other. It is a movement between inner and outer landscapes, allowing both to come into alignment. I work in relation to the art, the site, the season, the occasion, and the guests. When art becomes embedded in the landscape, it affords us to tune in.
For each occasion, I curate a hosting team composed of embodied objects and creative minds. Occasionally, I create an object that becomes part of the team. Each member is selected through my philosophy of Dailyvote and the guiding belief that resonance brings forth resonance. Dailyvote is the understanding that every act of attention, time, or financial contribution is a vote for the world we wish to be part of. When an object or practice is born of genuine intention and nurtured through resonance and care, it carries presence and may touch us in unexpected ways, bringing resonance forth. The hosting team brings the space into attunement with ourselves, the art, and one another, becoming part of the unfolding harmony.
I foster long-term relationships with these objects and creative collaborators, evolving together and strengthening the hosting practice, while allowing them to embody their agency as they grow alongside us. With practice and gained insight, new members will be invited, created, or curated. As the practice unfolds, so too does the hosting team. Inspired by the Japanese tea masters—who were among the greatest commissioners of the arts—my intention for the hosting team is to create a regenerative system that amplifies the value of art, allowing objects to perform, be enjoyed, and become integral to our architecture.
I work with art and cultural institutions, foundations, and private clients. My hosting unfolds through artistic gatherings, occasions, and ceremonies with art. These may include celebrations of artistic practices, encounters with art, or acts of remembrance for those whose lives were touched by art.
THEODORA NIEMEIJER PRICE