Jantina van Klompenburg

"My artistic practice often begins with a feeling I don’t yet understand. An intuition. Not as something mysterious, but as a form of knowing that is already present before I can put it into words. Often, I only understand what my work is about by making it. By listening to what wants to reveal itself.

‘Organ of the Earth’ stems from a desire to honour the women who came before me. For a long time, I thought this meant I had to work harder, make more, and always be productive. During my research, a different realisation slowly began to emerge: perhaps honouring lies precisely in slowing down. In listening. In making space for stillness.

Recently, that quest has centred on a single plant: the stinging nettle. What began as a fascination grew into a form of collaboration. By spending time with it, harvesting and processing it, questions arose about exhaustion, care and our relationship with the earth. At first, I thought I was studying the plant. Now, it sometimes feels more as though it is studying me.

Using textiles, earth, plants and performance, I create a space where attention takes centre stage. A space where listening becomes more important than controlling. For me, art is an exercise in connection. With ourselves. With the women who came before us. With plants, animals and places. With the earth of which we are a part."

Contact:
tinaspatroontjes@gmail.com