EMBED is a format that guides us to reflect on and deepen our resonance with art. Inspired by the tea ceremony and art salons,
I host a ceremonial space that invites guests to arrive, encouraging presence, vulnerability, and openness. Rooted in the philosophy that connection is a two-way street, each session invites guests to explore what an encounter with an artwork reveals within themselves and to embed this insight, cultivating an inner wisdom with art.
Developed from Bruno Latour’s mediation theory, the format unfolds in six steps, each designed to gradually open and deepen the connection with the work. The gatherings create space to find one’s own words, to name what has been touched, and to consider how these insights might be embedded in daily life. Each session offers a narrative within the arts that refines and enriches our shared conversation.
The intimate EMBED series takes place in my home studio, limited to four guests - inspired by the scale of the Japanese tea ceremony, which traditionally seats five, including the host. This setting allows for spaciousness, deep reflection, and a natural sense of closure within three hours. These sessions are part of my ongoing artistic research and are documented through cards composed of an image and short writings, capturing the artwork and the movement it evoked.
Over time, EMBED has shown its resonance for a wide range of participants - from seasoned art professionals to those with quiet curiosity. Many have shared how the conversations deepened their connection with the artwork, with each other, and even with other works encountered later. One participant described the ceremony as “creating a gesamtkunstwerk.”
The format is adaptable for larger audiences and can unfold in relation to specific exhibitions or performances. How each gathering is hosted is defined in dialogue with the institution, the artwork, and its public.
I remain open and curious to further develop this approach - sharing this wisdom with more people to cultivate deeper, embodied encounters with art.
Ceremonies
A Women’s touch
Art drips like water, shaping inner ground
Ripples of Joy
Resonance of dissonant tones
EMBED
"How can a catastrophe become a moment of emancipation?
Femke Herregraven
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. These elements were attuned to Femke’s work, to the intention of the award and the Stedelijk Museum collection. Sunne, a solar light object by Marjan van Aubel, softly illuminated the space like the tip of a candle. Another Throw, a textile by Buro Belén, was integrated into cushions and held us in a shared, tactile warmth.
As part of the Stedelijk’s collection, both works allowed guests to encounter the objects as living presences in performance.
Guests entered barefoot along The Way, a woollen path that grounded them and marked their transition into the ceremonial space. We gathered in an oval circle on cushions and benches, evoking unity and equality. Within the circle stood Corrupted Air, a light-box artwork by Femke Herregraven from the Stedelijk Collection. The ceremony opened with sparkling tea by FONDA, grounding us while simultaneously celebrating the occasion.
For the occasion I created the cushions Gedragen, shaped as arms reaching out to hold space. Each cushion held three guests, forming four symbolic pillars of a tea house. One cushion stood apart, representing the individual within the collective. Burnt cork objects and tiles by Corkinho held us close to the earth.
A choreography, conceived and performed by founder Andrea Davina, unfolded as she stepped into the center of the gathering.
An ikebana arrangement of mimosa, the symbol of International Women’s Day, held by an oval cork formcentered in stillness and reflecting the form of the gathering itself. She cut and offered branches to Femke, accompanied by heightened light, sound,
and shared 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. We closed with conversation and a shared lunch at FONDA, continuing the energy held in the circle.
Commissioned by
Stichting Niemeijer Fonds
Hosting Ensemble
Ikebana by Uno Fujisawa,
Cork Objects by Corkinho,
Sunne by Marjan van Aubel, The way, Gedragen,
Another Throw cushions by Buro Belén, FONDA
ART JOURNEY JAPAN
“The tea-master held that real appreciation of art is only possible to those who make of it a living influence.”
Okakura Kakuzo, The book to tea
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
Commissioned by
Outset
Curation
Stephanie Schuitemaker
Soundign Board
Sawako Fukai
Hosting Ensemble
Sawako Fukaii, Stephanie Schuitemaker
“What nurtures you?”
Flora de Vries, Staykurious
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.
Commissioned by
Buro Stedelijk
Hosting Ensemble
Berber Meindertsma, Uno Fujisawa,
Lighting by Viabizzuno
HOSTING DARKNESS
HOSTING ART ENCOUNTERS
CURATING, CREATING, AND HOSTING GENUINE ARTISTIC TRANSITION SPACES, GATHERINGS, AND CEREMONIES WITH ART.
“Resonance requires a vibratory medium; resonant relationships are possible only in mutually accommodating resonant spaces”
Hartmut 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
An ode to
The objects that shape our ways
The artists from which they emerge
The genuine encounters that become embedded
The characters and embrace if brings forth
The moments of resonance building a sense of belonging
An ode to
A sense of home
To celebrate the space, the objects, and the creative minds that cultivated a sense of home, we hosted an open weekend. A Sense of Home presented both the embedded and additional works of the artists and designers who contributed to its creation. To amplify the voices of the artworks and the Gesamtkunstwerk, I choreographed a way of arriving that invited guests to become fully present and open to what the art expressed. Over the course of three days, I hosted 75 guests in 90-minute time slots, in collaboration with Ikebana artist Uno Fujiwara.
Upon arrival, guests were invited to hang their coats and offered a cup of tea and a Japanese sweet by Uno. I would introduce the vision and process behind the creation of our home, then invite guests to wander freely. Gestures placed on the floor, marked in three different colours, indicated the commissioned site-specific works, editions of our artists still available, and additional works by them.
To genuinely sense how the gesamtkunstwerk embraces, guests were invited to relax on the carpet by Buro BELEN, sit in a chair by Aldo Bakker, or a vintage design by Kader, taking time to enjoy and reflect on the space and objects. Guests were also offered a glass of water or iced tea, served in Aldo Bakker’s exquisite glassware. Both the glass and the teacup are exceptionally thin, with a delicate character that encourages mindful holding and presencing.
The atmosphere brought a sense of delight, grounding, and calmness. Some guests even referred to it as a contemporary temple. It resonated deeply, and the embrace of the space inspired them to bring these feelings into their own homes.
A Sense of Home illustrated how resonance creates further resonance. Our intention to create a resonant space through the conscious selection of artists, designers, architects, and craftspeople with whom we resonate was fulfilled beyond our expectations.
The space hosted us as well as our guests.
Designers / Artists
May Liok, Scheltens & Abbenes,
Buro Bélen, Aldo Bakker, Theo Keller,
Thor Schuitemaker Wichstrøm, Kader design,
Viabizzuno, Atelier Ternier, Studio Nauta, Johannes Offerhaus
A SENSE OF HOME
