“Widmer's exhibition makes you aware of the vulnerable relationship between mother and child, life and death, all the while convincing you of the beauty of the placenta.” - Dieuwertje Mertens, Het Parool
MOEDERKOEK
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On the Philosophy of the Placenta
Exhibition 20 April - 19 May, NDSM Fuse, NDSM-Plein 29, 1033 WC Amsterdam
Open Thur-Sun 12-18
We all were once attached to one, and yet we know so little about it - the placenta remains one of the least researched and understood organs of the human body. This temporary organ both connects and separates mother and child. Because of this duality, I consider it a symbol for the porous boundary between one person and another. Exploring autofiction, medical illustration, and intersubjectivity, MOEDERKOEK contains placentas out of ceramics and poetry.
In the framework of the exhibition, two lectures and one workshop will further explore the subject of the placenta and its symbolism.
- 12 May 16:30 Lecture "The Birth of a Mother" Cynthia Dorrestijn
In this lecture, Cynthia Dorrestijn describes how her perception and that of her new-born shaped each other, and invites the audience to explore their own boundaries of inside and outside.
- 18 May 13:00 Lecture "On the Philosophy of the Placenta" Rodante van der Waal
Activist, philosopher and midwife Rodante van der Waal will give a lecture exploring the philosophy of the placenta as temporary organ at the border between mother and child. The placenta is a porous boundary, representing both symbiosis and separation.
- 18 May 14:00 Workshop "Touching and Understanding the Placenta" Nikki Oosterveen
Artist and midwife Nikki Oosterveen will lead a workshop with real placentas, giving participants the opportunity to explore the textures of this temporary organ and understand its functions.