The Project
The power of art.
Sometimes Art needs to be shared. And that’s what I do with this portrait. I need you too.
To participate and to add your thoughts about Kaatje in your own way. Together we can make more people aware of struggling children ánd inspire others to discover the healing power of making art in a process of healing.
Sharing.
How can I get more people to experience this power of making art? By sharing! So that is what I do. You can download the special unlimited edition of 40x50 cm, where 2 Kaatjes present themselves (together). Print it yourself and add your layer to it or respond to Kaatje with your own work next to it, like writing a poem for her, paint her, draw her. So many ways to enjoy making art yourself. Nothing is wrong! It is your message. To ‘Kaatje’, to yourself. to your loved ones.
In case you don’t have facilities to print yourself, you can also get this one printed on a matte paper poster (50x70 cm) or a beautiful print on Hahnemuhle paper in 2 sizes (20x25 cm or 40x50 cm) here.. The last one has NO #kaatje on the print.
The portrait of 'Kaatje' marked the start of my photography journey and healing process at the same time. The idea is that this portrait might help others in their own journey as well.
“A repeating portrait of ‘Kaatje’ to help raise awareness of the struggling children around us.”
Adding Layers
Over time, I've discovered that people react differently to the same portrait. What if I add an extra intuitive layer on top? What if I cut and paste? What if it has colour. It turned out to be a special investigation. I used my ‘crazy mind’ to create portraits all the time. I was only satisfied when something weird was happening.
I edit them in various ways, depending on the person I was looking at combined with the mood I was in. This suits me and reflects different stages of my life and the emotions I experienced during the editing process. My goal is to explore how this approach affects viewers on a larger scale. What happens when you see the same portrait multiple times, each with layers of different emotions and techniques, even layers made by others? Layers that were never seen, but were always present.
What do you feel?
I even took this a bit further and started asking people to look at the portrait of ‘Kaatje’ and leave their message on the print. With the story of ‘Kaatje’ in their mind. In their own creative way. Intuitively. Write a poem, add some fabric, paper, a letter, draw, paint, cut, paste.
I noticed that this inspired people to pick up their pencils and even more important, we started a conversation. About art, about life, about struggling children. That is where the power of the project started. Share the portrait, ask the question to leave a message and share this again.
This way we create together! We can share our own personal story when it’s too hard to talk about it.
From my own experience I know that little gestures from people around me, helped me so much! My loving mother, the friendly neighbour, the teacher taking time to really listen.
How can you recognise ‘Kaatje’? Any child (or even adult) can be like ‘Kaatje’. It can be that cheerful, irritating, difficult, clownesk child that you just don't understand and pass by, while they so desperately need you to see them.
“It is so simple to be nice and friendly, especially to children. ”
Thank you!
They can’t do it alone.
I hope by encountering one of the many portraits of Kaatje will help people to remember how much impact a small gesture of kindness can help.
Do you feel any connection with Kaatje and want to help sharing? Here you can find some of the opportunities I could think of.