Exhibition catalogue »whatNEXT? – Forever Young!«
European and Social Committee, 2007

The word old age nowadays has predominantly connotations, since age is usually equated with being old and conjures up emotive words/clichés such as loneliness, isolation, illness and death. In my work »(i come and stand) at every door« I am not attempting to counteract these associations, instead, I accept them in order to create a basis for communication with the viewer, making it possible for him/her to discover the various aspects of my work.

People at a particular age are sometimes young, and sometimes old. But younger people are beginning to think about later life and the process of becoming old – and, so, also about facing loneliness – much earlier nowadays. Many people are learning what it may mean to be alone very early on in their lives, also because our (media) society skillfully instrumentualises and stirs up fears. The presumed closeness to others (friends or family) sometimes acts as a protective wall against such fears.

»(i come and stand) at every door« features people – alone and in the company of family and friends – and spaces. The spaces are closed spaces, whose original purpose can still be discerned, but which are no longer used for that purpose. The spaces simply exist. They do not show an outside world, but have the effect of a cell which may have been chosen (or created) by the protagonist. This effect is amplified by the lack of any medium (such as television or telephone) with which to establish contact with the outside world.

The people shown try to fill the spaces and to use them. But, it seems as if they cannot get any further, since their posture, facial expressions and gestures seem defensive, uncomfortable and rehearsed. There is no exchange or communication with the space around. The attempt to come to terms with themselves and their loneliness fails. This is true even when several people are present, as here too they are alone.

Learned behaviors, such as those of being alone, become more firmly established with age. Actions become less meaningful and more ritualistic, and the learned fear gains the upper hand. But the moment which causes the fear is not present. It lies outside the picture and is not (no longer) rational.
Even the space does not change. People disappear, the space stays the same and keeps telling of those that have tried to fill it, to live in it, to age in it and to come to terms with it, but who have ultimately failed to do so.