Love Space 2017, 16’
with Venus Jasper Griepink
Color, Digital, Stereo
Camera: Julia Sokolnicka
Directing: Julia Sokolnicka
Editing: Julia Sokolnicka, Venus Jasper Griepink
Credits
Love Space was part of Cure Park (2017), an outdoor Arts Manifestation in the Amsterdamse Bos, initiated by TAAK and Circus Engelbregt, curated and developed by TAAK and realized in collaboration with the Amsterdamse Bos and the Bostheater, Amsterdam.
Love Space is inspired by the research of Tamera Healing Biotope 1 and made possible by the generous support of the Mondriaan Fund, CBK Rotterdam, Fonds Kwadraat and Voordekunst.nl.
CREDITS
Film by Julia Sokolnicka
Project by Venus Jasper
AMBASSADORS
Viola Renate
Sophia Batovrina
Melina Gorham
Chris Pugsley
Amy Brangwyn
Katrin Pfalz
Love Space, a 16 minute documentary is an outcome of my collaboration with a visual artist engaged with ecological futures and creation of unique artistic ecosystems - Venus Jasper Griepink. We met during a queer night at Vrankrijk in Amsterdam and started working together shortly after. Jasper told me he is making a Love Temple and asked if I would be interested in collaboration in this project.
I made this 16 minute essential from the magic moments that followed this summer. Very wise people met and combined their wide knowledge locked in practice of healing through work with the body. Talking, but most of all engaged in opening the heart for love, understanding and compassion for another human, the hosts of Love Space practiced in networks of so called „green culture” mostly, but not only. The attitude towards how to bond in society and how to work on oneself and relationships with others, is something that could be learned only by osmosis. I hope the virus of kindness spreads.
Love Space premiered at Art Rotterdam fair in 2018.
During the work on Love Space Jasper was supported by The Mondrian Fonds Young Art Scholarship and our collaborative work Love Space Documentary, was his choice of work for the exhibition „Prospects and Concepts” at Art Rotterdam. The way Jasper works is site specific, so showing the film that was documentation of what happened in the summer was very special. I hope the audience really transported into the Amsterdamse Bos just a little by watching the film. It was also great to be featured amongst some of my favorite young artists in the Netherlands.
From the description of the project by Venus:
In the summer of 2017, Amsterdam had its very first LOVE SPACE: a temporary Temple of Love that functions as a community centre. Here, people could gain a deeper awareness of sexuality, eroticism and partnership. Artist Venus Jasper believes sexual energy has healing powers. Therefore, the energetic and psychological exchange of erotic intimacy should not take place in the fringes of life, or quickly in between, but at the centre of life, as a conscious experience.
People interested can come to the LOVE SPACE to make love and free their sexual intimacy from fear, conditioning and hidden contracts. Daily ‘sharing circles’ provide the opportunity to share and question feelings. The participant and partner(s) pick a time and decide what they want to do with the energy that is released when making love. If need be, the LOVE SPACE team can assist in formulating their objectives.
LOVE SPACE was part of Cure Park, a 6-week outdoor manifestation and exhibition of Art & Care in the Amsterdamse Bos. LOVE SPACE was an attempt to link the personal and private with the public and political, an intimate place free of voyeurism or exhibitionism. Focal points are safety and connection with our human sexuality, and all that is expected of the participants is that they go on a personal authentic journey of discovery.
