Photo © Bárbara Jrk
In May 2023, I first discovered Marijke de Roover’s work at the "Modern Love – Love in the Age of Cold Intimacies" exhibition at EMST in Athens. Her art, especially her memes, caught my attention - funny, raw, and relatable. I left the exhibition feeling inspired and wanting to know more about her and her work.
Marijke is one of those artists who brings everything of herself into her work. She doesn’t shy away from showing her own vulnerability, and that openness invites everyone around her to do the same.
Fast forward six months, I saw that she was looking for performers for her project "Cum as your madness" at Kiosk Ghent, Belgium.
"Cum as Your Madness is a psychedelic, sadomasochistic, decomposed narrative of feminist self-actualization against a macho hegemony, improvised around unlikely pop cultural references. A cinematic, theatrical, and physically and psychologically intense performance that engages them through interaction, evocative themes, and larger-than-life narrative tactics." (Text: Marijke de Roover // KIOSK, Ghent)
Soon after, I found myself in Belgium, ready to collaborate with an artist who had already had such an impact on me. I spent one month in Ghent working with Marijke and the rest of the team (Sara, Clara, Barbara, Cora, Simon & Co) and it was one of the most extreme experiences and performances I did so far and a reminder that vulnerability is something to face, not avoid.
This project has left a lasting impact on me, not just as an artist and performer, but as a person.
Thank you, Marijke.