18 | ruimteCAESUUR | flying kites | catalogue

flying kites with CAESUUR

Exhibition | October 20 untill November 15, 2018 1

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Content Invitation letter Making kites Flying the kites on Saturday, October 20, 2018 Exhibition on the beach in Vlissingen on Saturday, October 20, 2018 Exhibitions in ruimteCAESUUR

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First European image of a diamond-shaped kite, Middelburg, Abdijplein 1618 From: Kites, David Pelham, 1977 [ Dutch version ] , ISBN 90 6210 067 8 Colophon Participating artists: from Pakistan Mehreen Hashmi from Gaza / Palestine Mohammed alHawajri, Dina Mattar and Raed Issa from Germany / Danmark Jörn Burmester From Belgium jen gossé, Frie J. Jacobs and Jan Verhaeghen From the Netherlands Leni van den Berge, Ko de Jonge, Dani Ploeger, leon riekwell, Loek Grootjans, Ingrid Rollema, Hans Overvliet, Stef Fridael, Robin Weijers, Harriët Rademakers and Rinus Roepman Photo’s Leni van den Berge, Toon Truyens, Paul de Ruiter, Giel Louws, Ko de Jonge, Hans Overvliet, Loek Grootjans, Dirk Van der Wal, Jack van Aspert, Alex Soplantila, leon riekwell

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Invitation letter Dear colleague artist, In 2010, thousands of children in Gaza improved the Guinness Record Kite (kite flying record) that they themselves had established in 2009. 7,202 Children and as many pilots & kites participated in this event, organized by UNRWA, the Palestinian refugee organization of the United Nations.

In 2018, people in Gaza use kite flying as a cheerful political statement of protest, occasionally alternated with an attempt of actual resistance to underscore the 70-years remembering of the Nakba - the Disaster. The term Al-Nakba refers to the 1948 war with Israel. A war with the current disastrous consequences for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. With their protests, the Palestinians support their demand for returning to their villages and cities. A requirement, incidentally, that is recognized by numerous internationally recognized organizations, including the U.N. As said: sometimes kites are used as a weapon of resistance. This is regarded by one of the best armed countries in the world - including possessing the nuclear weapon - as an existential danger: kite terrorism. A concept that is lustfully propagated by the corporate media all over the world.

Israeli drones apparently cannot control the pilots & these kites, so the Israeli parliament called on the army in order, by sharpshooters, to shoot children who are playing with kites .

As you may know, since December 2012 I have been working on a work in progress DISTANT SUFFERING. In this context, combined with the new direction of ruimte(space)CAESUUR, I propose a collaborative project with a number of artists.

I want to create an exhibition consisting of kites, made by some 20 colleague artists who have expressed a critical attitude towards social developments in the past and / or identified themselves with my work.

The exhibition has two moments: the kites are air born on Saturday, October 20 at 4 o'clock in Vlissingen during a heavenly vernissage, whether by the artists themselves or our friends, and subsequently shown in ruimteCAESUUR. Afterwards, the exhibition might find accommodation elsewhere with the help of the invited artists.

Hereby I ask you if you want to participate in my project.

When I get a positive answer from you, I will send you a sheet of paper with the out-line of a kite. In this case the model concerns a symmetrical improvisation on the Japanese Rokkaku, the so-called libanese model.

The paper is artisan (Washi), made in Japan: Inshu Kozo, 56 grams, color white. The gross size of the sent sheet is 98 by 98 cm.

My question is to work your art on that sheet in your own way. In my studio I assemble your work into a final kite.

Last but not least. As a homo technologus, I try to act as the perfect organizer of this project.

However, since the wind plays a decisive role, some uncertainty remains. So also the (slight) chance that one of the pilots crashes on its first flight or that there is so little wind that the kites do not want to fly. As a homo ludens you should take that risk for granted.

I am still thinking about the title. I invite all invited participants to this exhibition to come up with suggestions for a correct one.

I am very curious about your answer. with warm regards Hans Overvliet

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making kites

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Vlissingen | October 20, 2018

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The kites on the beach of Vlissingen 20

Stef Fridael

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leon riekwell

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Mohammed alHawajri

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Dina Mattar

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Raed Issa

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Jรถrn Burmester

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jen gossĂŠ

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Jan Verhaeghen

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Frie J. Jacobs

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Leni van den Berge

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Ko de Jonge

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Dani Ploeger

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Mehreen Hashmi

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Loek Grootjans

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Ingrid Rollema

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Hans Overvliet

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Robin Weijers

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HarriĂŤt Rademakers

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Rinus Roepman

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exhibitions in ruimteCAESUUR 40

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P.S. In the last two weeks a lot of public turmoil around this project has come up: it became a real political controversy where reactions on social networks, aldermen, local politicians and international media biased parties took their “news and facts” as them suited best. The project became a “playing ball” far beyond its artistic purpose, which has been totally overlooked I may add. This kite project has made a lot clear about the stalemate positions that govern the Gaza conflict. In that sense, my reflective kite has not yet been comprehended or even flown, as a result of the controversy. It has put to the test too!

Robin Wijers See for an overview of the reactions in the media: https://issuu.com/caesuur/docs/18_caesuur_kites_p.s.

P.P.S. Here ends the involvement of ruimteCAESUUR. The project from this moment on is a private project by the initiator Hans Overvliet. See www.hansovervliet.com .

Hans Overvliet

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flying kites with CAESUUR

Exhibition | October 20 untill November 15, 2018

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