Arteles Catalogue 2023-2020

Fall into Focus program / AUGUST 2023
Sarah Damai Hoogman
Netherlands
www.sarahhoogman.com
About
My practice is inspired by my interest in natural phenomena,
the human perception and what happens beyond this
perception. As an interdisciplinary artist I explore what is
beyond our realities by researching the interfaces between
science, technology, nature and art. Fascinated by the hidden
forces of nature, discovered in my artistic field research, I
strive to create new bridges between the human perception
and the more-than-human world. My work consists of a
system in which a scientific element, an ecological change
or a natural phenomenon is translated in a kinetic interactive
installation.
Month of Immersion
A month in silence. That's how my month at Arteles residency
felt. A month where the weight of expectations gently lifted,
a month in which I allowed myself to be guided by the veins
of fallen trees and found inspiration in the thousands of lakes
and waters. I questioned whether I could truly replicate the
beauty of nature and if not, how I might carry the essence of
my fascination and inspiration home to share with others. The
quiet beauty of Finnish nature made me curious about what
might be hidden beneath and behind it. Moved by the words
of Robert Macfarlane I began to research the Underland.
Not using the internet or my mobile phone allowed me to be
fully immersed and completely present in the precious space
of Arteles. I found ample space and time to write and reflect
on my role as an artist and, in general, my position in life. I
was inspired by the springs of the Uhrilade, and from there,
I started working on a new sand installation. I also worked
on a short film and found even more peace and silence
in woodwork. I explored the medium of cyanotype and
discovered how, by the end of the residency, all this together
had seamlessly converged into a coherent whole.
Thankyou Arteles for the silence in which I accomplished so
much, where the days seemed to stretch on endlessly, yet
the weeks swiftly slipped through my fingers like grains of
sand.