Research Catalogue

This public space project is taking place in my local community Sv. Filip i Jakov at the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. It is embedded in artistic research, conducted through the Masters of choreography programme COMMA at Codarts University of the Arts and Fontys Academy of the Arts. Following up my artistic research on the interrelation of space and the human inner world I am investigating what impact a surrounding, in particular the environment of the public space we live in, has on our thinking, feeling, acting, living and ways of being. The purpose of this project is raising awareness about the importance how we shape our common living spaces. In this practice-based research process I am using methods and tools from artistic and academic practices as reflective writing, observation, content analysis, site-specific movement explorations, choreographic tools, interdisciplinary framework, as well as informal methods like dwelling, experiencing and socializing. The outcome of this process is a multilayered context being transferred into an artistic concept. In an unexpected way the artistic creation turned out to be a tool for comprehending not only content and context, but substantially knowing and understanding myself. The results are disseminated as an exhibition with historic and artistic photographies, a site-specific performance, a social event with the local community in the public space of my home village and this written paper.

This exposition is documentation of practice elements and research procedures as part of my PhD: Alternative to What? Exploring Alternative Art Schools Through Spatiality, Participation and Performative Tools. The work presented is a form of immersive and deep mapping of the alternative art school and art pedagogies. For an optimal viewing experience, it is recommended to utilise the Chrome web browser.

This is an open-ended project or research process around extremely slow growth, and the contact between glass and biological material. It aims to implement a model of un-synchronisation, perhaps through the form of a modular installation. The “narrative” and linear scale of materials is reworked to transplant them into a spatial setting where individual nodes embody and reinterpret parts of these materials, creating a field of sonic or visual encounters.

As a tourist in London during the late 17th century, it was mandatory to visit the House of Bedlam, the biggest mental institution in the city. The patients, being considered completely unreasonable, were attributed animalic characteristics, which was reflected in the brutal treatment behind the bars. The ultimate mirroring of the culture of exposing madness could be found in the theatre. Composers for the theatre, in wanting to explore the inability of reason in humanity, wrote The Mad Songs, where the madness is reflected in quick shifts in emotions. These songs have been my tool to gain access to a broader palette of expression in singing. I have developed a handbook of historically informed techniques and documented my process of embodying them, using sources such as Le Brun's "Conférence (...)" (1698); Walter Charleton's "Natural History of the Passions" (1701); Aaron Hill's "The Art of Acting" (1753); and George Vandenhoff's "The Art of Elocution" (1846). My quest for madness has also become a quest for genuinity. When Charles Le Brun conveyed his theory of expression on canvas, he strongly distinguished the difference between painting tense muscles and painting genuine expression. This has become a guideline for my research: in order to gain genuinity, one has to channel a reaction and produce an impulse. This study is an attempt to bridge the gap between now and then, allowing for a deeper understanding of the Mad Songs, as well as encouraging others to dive into theatrical repertoire on its own premises.

This research and project will aim to answer the question "How can I run an effective workshop for students on the Natural Horn?". In preparing for a workshop, I will explore what to include to give young students from age 9 and up a fun and interesting learning experience. Students will be able to build their own horns from hosepipes and funnels, and then experiment and perform with these instruments and hopefully leave inspired in their own journeys with the early horn. I aim to document the necessary elements to create an interactive and educational experience.

This research explores the use of allegory and symbolism in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas (BWV 1001-1006). The central inquiry is how Bach incorporated European allegorical and symbolic ideas into his music. Key aspects of this investigation include understanding how Bach applied symbolism through ornamentation, tonality, and numerical values. The study raises several questions: What were the common allegorical ideas in Europe at the time? Is there a consecutive story behind the Sei Solo? How do symbols relate to the piece? Additionally, it will examine how allegories (which is more common in literature and art) manifest in his Sei Solo through musical gestures like messa di voce, harmony hierarchies, and inflections. This research is dedicated to all the curious minds exploring allegory and symbolism in music—from those newly discovering J.S. Bach to devoted Bach lovers, students, and professionals.