Eleni Kamma

Diepenheim Garden Notes: our common ground?
In 2012 herman de vries created a garden at the Broenshof in Diepenheim. In this garden the artist placed a wide variety of plants and shrubs, divided into a winter garden (with plants that bloom in this season), a lilac garden (selected for their scent) and a butterfly garden (full of shrubs for this insect). In addition, there are signs with numbers placed next to the flora, and benches with texts that encourage experiencing the garden in the present moment.
In September 2023 the Athens-Brussels-Maastricht artist Eleni Kamma was a resident at the Drawing Center Diepenheim. During her work period, she became interested in herman de vries’ garden, and the issues at the Drawing Center and other stakeholders. Twelve years later, the garden is now clearly in need of a makeover: plants and bushes have disappeared, number plates are falling off posts, and there are questions about the role of the work of art versus its functionality in the village. Based on these issues Eleni developed a series of workshops, in collaboration with area developer Kirsten van de Meeberg from Diepenheim. During the workshops, participants were asked to participate to live in the different (non-human) users of the garden, in order to gain a new perspective on the use of space and the function of the work of art.
(Text: Caz Egelie, curator of the group exhibition the sketch, its realisation & her lovers)

Diepenheim Garden Notes
Wooden surface suspended from the ceiling with hand drawn map (pyrographie), printed script with nine characters to be activated, nine wooden laser cut outs-masks (Characters of the script) drawn with a wood burner pen, video consisting of various drawings by the participants (currently 85 images) displayed on a tablet. On the walls, from left to right: eight A1 prints showing the results of the joint workshops hung on metal hangers, seven unique drawings of mine, 36 × 48 cm each, watercolor on paper, 2023, three unique drawings: one A3 drawing, markers on transparent paper, two drawings of watercolor on paper, dimensions 50 × 65 cm each.

PERFORMANCE – Garden Notes: our common ground?
In and around the garden a performance always takes place: between the bushes, in the air and underground. It is an interplay of several species, a dance with and around each other. Artists Eleni Kamma & MOSs Social Club welcome you to an interactive script reading, in which you are invited to step into the shoes of another being and explore the world of the (un)known. As we wander through the garden, we wonder: to whom does this space belong?, KUNSTFESTIVAL Tekentuin, garden of herman de vries, 08.06.2024