07/08/2026
OPEN CALL
Contrapasso
We would like to invite artists to join in our project of creating an artwork with the charcoal that came from the burnout of Frans de Winter his sculpture ‘Contrapasso’ at the gallery on the 25th of juli 2026.
The sculpture Contrapasso consists of a steel shell in two halves, in which the form of a human body is visible. The manner in which the sculpture is created also contributes to its meaning. The sculpture and its creation connect three ideas.
Firstly, the body, which can be considered the earthly vehicle in which true humanity resides. The original meaning thus refers to the body as the shell of the human being.
Secondly, the work refers to the idea of a purification rite. A ritual burning aimed at removing impurities is a practice found in many cultures. Within Catholicism, the concept of purgatory exists; An intermediate state in which the souls of the deceased undergo a purification by fire before entering heaven.
Thirdly, the principle of Contrapasso resonates in the work. This is a literary concept derived from 'Dante's Inferno' in 'The Divine Comedy' by the late medieval Italian writer Dante Alighieri. It refers to the idea that a punishment corresponds to the sin committed. The punishment reflects the deed and thus forms a moral mirror.
The concept is to create a new out of this process of construction and deconstruction. The continuation into a collaboration.
We invite all artists but we can not be sending charcoal to many outside the country. The idea is that the results are posted on instagram or any socials and eventually create an exhibition later this year in the gallery showing a selection of the results. We are extremely curious what will come to existence.
The sculpture will be presented at the Art Fair Onder de Linden the 5th and 6th of September in de Grote Kerk in Vlaardingen. There you can also pick up some charcoal and do some life sketching.
Interested and inspired to participate: DM or send an email to [email protected]
