Linsey Hninnzi Knibbeler Lecluyze ¬ LinSeeds

Inspirational Art Blog Master Applied Arts in Human Rights / Teacher in Fine Arts & Free Dance / Analogue Photography LAB /

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“Artists in Prayers” - An exhibition on world peace and prayers by and for the world & Ukraine.

From 8th January 2023 until 20th January, Atelier CAYA;, Come As You Are, located in the 7th district in Vienna, organized an art exhibition with international artists, primarily artists from Ukraine, called; "Artists in Prayers."; A group exhibition about prayers for our world & beyond, with international artists by and for Ukraine. A concept developed by Justyna Ustyna from Ukraine that got in touch with CAYA through 'The Office for Ukraine, Artist Help.' 

Official Invitation of the Exhibition

           At the beginning of November 2022, I, Linsey Knibbeler, organizer and concept developer of Atelier CAYA, attended the Office for Ukraine meeting in the MuseumQuartier for the second time. An event organized every 3 weeks, creating a platform where cultural/artistic workers from Vienna can meet with artists from Ukraine.

As I just got the keys to take care of a 100m2 art studio (including everything art-related you can possibly think of) from an Afghan Artist friend and Family I grew close to, I wondered what to do with 100m2 of art studio space. So, throughout September/October, I developed a concept to provide a platform for artists who are not easily seen, such as my Afghan artist friend. So, that began the search for artists who needed an art studio / social art space.

  Vernissage night 8th January 2023, inside the gallery daughter of the Martseniuks explains about her parents jewelry's.

At the 'The Office for Ukraine' event, I asked the organizers if I could speak that day. I presented myself with nothing more than me and my voice, explaining about the art studio and wondering if there were artists that would like to work together. Here I learned to put the ideas I carry 'out there.' We need to network, especially if you want to build a community. No community is created alone.

           Through presenting myself and the concept, I gained many contacts, many of whom visited me over the following weeks. One of those people was Justyna. She came to me with an idea for an exhibition named 'artists in prayers' and wished to find a space to exhibit. Most of the time, the language barrier was a challenge. I was in a position where I had to deal with a 100m2 art studio that was, read it correctly, FULL with belongings of the Family that gifted me the space. When I mean FULL, I mean FULL. It took me two months to clear out the room, primarily by myself, and in the meantime, I had the pressure of the outside world that wanted to work together, plus the constant worry of the future.

           In December, I invited Justyna over. who had to come from Innsbruck. Because I wanted to show her the condition of the space so she would understand the studio's situation.

This was a task on its own. However, having a vision for the space and having people in the space that need help understanding or where you can't explain your viewpoints, since the language barrier, has proven challenging. 

The night before the opening, many Ukrainians gathered to help out. Even those who did not stand behind the participation of the Russian artist, they still contributed all night to make the room ready for representation.

 As I promised to help, I wanted to keep my word. Within December, I managed to empty the white cube room, which was once filled to the top with at least 120 paintings of my artist friend, drawings, closets, 3-meter-long tables, a bed, furniture, instruments, computers, all sorts of electronic gear, carpets, fabrics, and many many many more stuff. I even found a sitar in a corner at some point. Despite the pressure of 'clearing out,' we managed and emptied the room for our first event exhibition, 'Artists in Prayers,' which opened on 8th January 2023, right after Orthodox Christmas. Gathering with the Ukrainian community – one night before the event everyone came to help for a few hours. Reminding me of how many hands can lighten the burden of so much work.

             A conflict arose three days before the opening, as a Russian artist joined the exhibition intending to pray for world peace. Unfortunately, this caused some Ukrainian artists to go into an online discussion and withdraw last minute. Despite this setback, we tried to organize a room to talk one day before the opening. A diversity & inclusivity specialist was present at the vernissage to ensure everyone felt heard or safe.

  Meeting with one of the artists after she dropped her artwork and speaking about the topic of the exhibiton & discussion regarding boycotting Russian artists.

             The establishment of CAYA;, Come As you Are' was new, yet coming from a human rights perspective, overtaking the art studio from an Afghan Artist refugee – who also carried a wish for equality in arts and rights for every human being – it was no possibility to draw a line by excluding the Russian artist. Where does the Russian cultural society outside of the nation stand when we speak regarding the right to freedom of expression? It is not new that many Russian artists have been boycotted over the past year, even when they risked openly condemning the war. What will be enough? Especially since all international artists that participated drew a line by saying they were out of the exhibition if the Russian artist were to be boycotted. What would you do if you stood on such a borderline? Would you let everyone come or leave as they are? 

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I am a “too much” woman

The “too much..” woman - Ev’Yan Whitney

Many times I have heard that I am too much, too loud, too much.. One of the reasons why I got bullied in grade 5 at age 7 or 8 in the first place was.. because I was too much.. I talked too much.. I felt too much.. They tried to silence me, for years, it worked.. Until this “too much” woman discovered her talents and her too muchness as a part of herself again.. Ever since than I am back on track on becoming this “too much” woman.. Occasionally, almost daily, feeling pushed back into her cave of suppression.., feeling trapped in too muchness and silencing,  

No wonder I found myself so enormously attracted to these beautiful words written down.. Thank you Whitney, this too (much) shall pass..

Text

“There she is. . . the “too much” woman. The one who loves too hard, feels too deeply, asks too often, desires too much.

There she is taking up too much space, with her laughter, her curves, her honesty, her sexuality. Her presence is as tall as a tree, as wide as a mountain. Her energy occupies every crevice of the room. Too much space she takes.

She is dangerous.

And there she goes, that “too much” woman, making people think too much, feel too much, swoon too much. She with her authentic prose and a self-assuredness in the way she carries herself. She with her belly laughs and her insatiable appetite and her proneness to fiery passion. All eyes on her, thinking she’s hot shit.

Oh, that “too much” woman. . . too loud, too vibrant, too honest, too emotional, too smart, too intense, too pretty, too difficult, too sensitive, too wild, too intimidating, too successful, too fat, too strong, too political, too joyous, too needy—too much.

She should simmer down a bit, be taken down a couple notches. Someone should put her back in a more respectable place. Someone should tell her.

Here I am. . . a Too Much Woman, with my too-tender heart and my too-much emotions.

A hedonist, feminist, pleasure seeker, empath. I want a lot—justice, sincerity, spaciousness, ease, intimacy, actualization, respect, to be seen, to be understood, your undivided attention, and all of your promises to be kept.

I’ve been called high maintenance because I want what I want, and intimidating because of the space I occupy. I’ve been called selfish because I am self-loving. I’ve been called a witch because I know how to heal myself.

And still. . . I rise. Still, I want and feel and ask and risk and take up space.

I must.

Us Too Much Women have been facing extermination for centuries—we are so afraid of her, terrified of her big presence, of the way she commands respect and wields the truth of her feelings. We’ve been trying to stifle the Too Much Woman for ions—in our sisters, in our wives, in our daughters. And even now, even today, we shame the Too Much Woman for her bigness, for her wanting, for her passionate nature.

And still. . . she thrives.

In my own world and before my very eyes, I am witnessing the reclamation and rising up of the Too Much Woman. That Too Much Woman is also known to some as Wild Woman or the Divine Feminine. In any case, she is me, she is you, and she is loving that she’s finally, finally getting some airtime.

If you’ve ever been called “too much,” or “overly emotional,” or “bitchy,” or “stuck up,” you are likely a Too Much Woman. And if you are. . . I implore you to embrace all that you are—all of your depth, all of your vastness; to not hold yourself in, and to never abandon yourself, your bigness, your radiance.

Forget everything you’ve heard—your too much-ness is a gift; oh yes, one that can heal, incite, liberate, and cut straight to the heart of things.

Do not be afraid of this gift, and let no one shy you away from it. Your too much-ness is magic, is medicine. It can change the world.

So please, Too Much Woman: Ask. Seek. Desire. Expand. Move. Feel. Be.

Make your waves, fan your flames, give us chills.

Please, rise. We need you.” Ev’Yan Whitney

https://www.evyanwhitney.com/blog/too-much-woman 

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One of my favourite live Full Concerts on youtube....   "Quieter than Silence”

That one thing that we can all feel when we listen, Music is universal.....   "Quieter than Silence” is a project of the Roots Revival Cultural Association based in Vienna.  "What is this metaphor we call silence? In our music, silence does not want to abstain from utterance. On the contrary, it wants to render the intentional or imposed state of muteness on the way to universal consciousness and to sublime awareness. This music intends to create a space beyond silence (“Quieter than silence”), of the complete dissolution of speech.  Speech that has been emptied of meaning in an ever noisier and aggressive world. A world where less than ever is being done to revive the human dignity trampled under never ending consumerism, wars, conflicts, nationalism and their consequences. This is an era where words and communication have lost their primary function. This project makes the symbolic journey of returning to nothingness, a tabula rasa of existence in order to invest sounds with a new creative power, worthy of dialogue.  “Quieter than Silence” is rooted in Persian, Syrian and Sufi music cultures, applying various rhythmical and timbral elements throughout the process, which makes it a unique artistic repertoire hard to attribute it to particular geographical identity. The ongoing conflicts around the world and the current tragedy in Syria in particular, existential contemporary issues,  mystic Sufi literature and poetry and the various musical traditions from around the globe are the main inspirations in this album and its new approach to composition, rhythm and melody. 

 "Quieter than Silence” is a dedication to the wandering Syrians in distress and grief. It is a form of compassion and a protest against all the noise in the world."

"Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or cultural system. I am not from the east or the west, not out of the ocean or up from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all. I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or the next, did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story. My place is the placeless, a trace of the traceless. Neither body or soul. I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being. " ~ Rumi (or not! But definitely a breathing human being!) - from Roots Revival

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Woman drawing a sketch of another woman at a rest stop during the "March Against Fear" through Mississippi, begun by James Meredith. 1966

Alabama Mosaic

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Goma | MONUSCO “Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep painters company to the end of the day,” said former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was also an amateur painter.

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We Need to Treat Artists as Workers, Not Decorations

Art and money: the great taboo. Art, we’ve been taught to believe, has nothing to do with money, must have nothing to do with money, is defiled by contact with money, is degraded by the very …

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Sun Xun & his legacy are beautifully shown in this video. In my eyes he gets it, he understands the parts of how it works to make art and he is in a constant flow. Something I am in search for and feel that is coming along wave after wave. I admire how he speaks and acts. I see his urge to tell stories in my urge to tell stories and it makes me have a feeling of belonging.

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Luctor et Emergo – I struggle and emerge is made to capture the re-owning of the female body through body awareness, by dealing with the light and darkness within yourself. A collaboration of: Linsey Knibbeler: Concept / Model Bram Engelaar: Photography Camiel Beemer: Graphic Design / Print Screenprint on Rainbow 230 g/m2, 700x500mm Numbered edition, €50,- excl. shipping DM if interested https://www.instagram.com/p/CHP8KoLJxXh/?igshid=1dsyymlhkwlnf

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Luctor et emergo - 360 View

I struggle and emerge; ik worstel en kom boven.

In the back of the person sitting there, which is me, you see the prison department. The green doors were the cells.  Very nice to have a picture of this. Since I couldnt show it in person to anyone. Just two friends. 

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Luctor et emergo - Panorama

I struggle and emerge; ik worstel en kom boven.

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Luctor et emergo - By Night 

I struggle and emerge; ik worstel en kom boven.

The installation work when it is getting darker and darker 

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Luctor et emergo - by night

I struggle and emerge; ik worstel en kom boven. 

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What I find very interesting with this way of exhibiting is how it works in the environment. But also how Light has a role in the play of how it is perceived and presented. 

During the day You can see the light changing through the panel canvasses and later on when it is dark, it looks more like it grows into becoming another way of seeing the pictures. It evolves in itself. I could have chosen to darken the whole space but I instinctively didn’t wanted to do that.  That’s because for me the light play is playing a big role in the space it is standing, as well as in the subject of the art works that you can see. 

It is transparant, see through, and the role of the environment is very accurate for this specific artwork. For years women have been sitting here in prison. This work is about feeling imprisoned in your own body and the female body. A story about acceptance. It intertwines straight with the bars of prison you see through.  Contradiction of locked up and being fully free, naked in front of everyone’s eyes. I wish I could have showed this to you in real life. 

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Luctor et emergo - during the day I struggle and emerge; ik worstel en kom boven.

zoom in on one of the works in the installation