Clara Projects that may or may not be made

EARTH ARMY

What? Photo series/ book of an imaginary "Earth Army". In which humans from various backgrounds in various constellations stand as protectors of the natural world wearing ceramic masks inspired by figures from fantasy novels, folklore and fairytales that serve as protectors of nature as well.

How? Potentially the bodies will otherwise be naked, adding a layer of vulnerability as well as a reminder of our animal self. I also wish to note how nudity is still a taboo (possibly become one more and more~) and that when taking away a face and potentially easier recognition that it can help foster a normalisation of the body uncovered by clothing, as that itself represents the destruction of nature to me due to fast fashion and general over consumption. It is unclear to me which feeling I want to emit. Do I show these earth warriors while protecting nature spaces or in front of destroyed spaces or will they attack those and that which harms nature? Are they foraging and giving back to the soil? Will there be movement and scenes of community such as circle folk dances and other ritualistic approaches as such?

Workflow / Timetable 1// research creatures and war masks (September) 2// make masks(October-December) 3// plan locations and the bodies represented (and in what constellations and movements) (October-December) 4// organise photo/ video shoots (January-April) 5// Experiment with ways of exhibiting and presenting the work to add as much educational value as possible (magazine with interviews of who I see as "earths army?) (April-July)

Relation to previous practice The initial idea to work with masks came from my work being very beauty/portrait oriented. When taking away the face and possible glorification of a specific human and it's beauty, I see more possibilities to go deeper and see the body as it is and focus on what it does and represents.

I have been working with ceramics for around 2 years now and in the last years started dipping my toes further into the world of costume design and fashion design.

Making an imaginary global community and visualising ways of coexisting might stem from my focus on alternative ways of coexisting within communities, after living in a community and creating a photo book on such in 2021.

Fantasy novels have been a place of escapism since my childhood and I strive to bring in further notions of such, also as I experience strong emotions when being confronted with the symbolisms of the creatures represented in renaissance art.

A more performative aspect that might come in if I would also use video as medium is coming from my background in contemporary dance.

Choices made (two sentences) One choice made is to create a work that I see having a stronger sense of urgency that my previous works, especially when it comes to living a more mindful live in intimate, symbiosis with nature and each other.

I also want to push my own boundaries in creating a sense of discomfort in the viewer, which I tend to avoid.

In the coming year I wish to combine my work with ceramics with my lens based work. As such the final result will be a body of lens based work (either film&photography or only photography) that is exhibited together with props created from clay.

(The next idea I will pitch will relate to this as well, but in making a marionette from clay that gives a voice to nature)

PHOTO BOOK COLLABORATION CEDRIC

What ?

A photo book that explores the representation of intimacy through the eyes of two photographers, one male, one female, one based on nightlife documentation, on daylight scenes.

I have been thinking to co create with my good friend Cedric Veldhuis on an exhibition or book.

Our practices and characters describe very strongly our appreciation for those around us. Him rather in a nightlife/city setting, and me in a more soft daytime, nature setting.

Why make it?

Start a conversation on photographic documentation of people in their 20s by a female and male and how our work related to each other and relates to the status quo

Describe how it would be made: describe the stages needed to make it (Workflow)

1/ Collect visuals from our archives that express the general idea I/we wish to express.

2/ Try out how they work together and define the story line throughout the expo or book.

3/ produce further work together that aligns with the overlap of our practices

4/ Layout, trial prints, expo organizing(curating, event organization…)

5/ Sale/exhibiting of work

Timetable

Before September 2023: creating a draft/moodboard

September 2023 - December 2024: rounds of conversation, shoots, editing, collecting conversations to possibly add…

January 2024  - June 2024:finalize, print and exhibi2

UNCOMMON LOVE SHORT

What?

A (short) film that explores the fine lines between friendship love and romantic love and the importance of all human relationships.

I wish to make a film that feels authentic, that feels intimate, that shows nuances and the actual confrontations and lessons I find in my relationships on daily basics.

This I would like to see in an autobiographical-fiction narrative story in which I mix my own experiences with those of others and stories I would like to have visualised more.

I want it to feel tender, relatable, leading to self reflection and also just use my own humour more.

(A topic I would like to also include might be the influence of the privileged/constant moving lifestyle on relationships.)

Why make it?

I was missing different narratives of love in the film industry and realized what a toxic influence many movies had on my perception of love and relationships as a teenager. A narrative that is drenched by hardship, drama, fighting for each other, pain or unrealistic happy endings. No stories of fights over little-not-so-little aspects of daily life and facets of love with a queer perspective.

At least this is what I grew up with mostly. Now the film world is already shifting, with some of my favorite examples being “Close” by Lukas Dhont, “Something you Said Last Night” by Luis de Filippis or the more known ones “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Call me by your Name”.

All examples to me from which I want to draw inspiration when it comes to the portrayal of love, relationships and appreciation for the other, learning from each other, but also a realistic idea of what we treat each other like, when we are our worst, most unfiltered self.

Workflow

1/ Collect scenarios that describe the feeling/ relationships I wish to portray and start writing small scenes (storyboard).

2/ Collect further references in films that give the feeling I want to give

3/ Define out characters and search for actors that are fitting (maybe if realistic people playing themselves?)

4/ Start shooting scenes

5/ The editing will most likely be a “writing by editing process”, in which I define the final narrative.

Timetable

Before September 2023: Writing first script/storyboard draft

September 2023 - December 2024: rounds of feedback, trial shoots, finalizing, organizing, finding team

January 2024  - June 2024: Film & edit