SPEECH AT SOLO EXHIBITION “The Upright Man”
SPEECH AT SOLO EXHIBITION “The Upright Man”
Last October (2024) I had a solo exhibition at DeNieuweGalerie (Amstelveen). The title of this exhibition was “The Upright Man“.
During this exhibition, which was also in celebration of the 25th anniversary of my coaching-mentoring agency ILISOS, I gave a speech. For this blog I have highlighted a couple of fragments: “reciprocity” and the theme of “the upright man“.
On “reciprocity”
During previous exhibitions I noticed how good it is to hear the reactions of visitors and to talk to them.
There is a saying by an artist that says that a painting is only finished when it has been seen by the public. A painter makes a painting, he works on the piece of art until he thinks it’s finished. But then it’s not yet done. The work of art still needs something. It needs to be seen by someone else. When it is seen by the viewer, the triangle of painter-artwork-viewer is completed, and it has an experience of existence. This reciprocity (artist – viewer) is essential. Then, in addition to the artist’s intention, the work of art can also unfold the multiple realities it contains.
This reciprocity is also essential in the coaching/mentoring business. It is the basis for a real meeting between the coach-mentor and the client.
In fact, this reciprocity is at the core of meeting yourself in the other, and of meeting yourself in a work of art. The circle then is complete. The same goes for me. In the same way, I need you to exist; as a mirror, as an opponent, as support, in being together.
For that I am grateful to you as family, friends, relations.
On “The Upright Man”
Initially, I only had the idea of an exhibition. You will then start making a first selection of works that you would like to show. Then it takes a while of looking, talking and mirroring with people. In this process it became clear to me that there had to be a theme. And that theme had to cover both areas art and coaching-mentoring as well.
And then something wonderful happens: you line up the selection of your work and a theme emerges. I was reminded of the remark a teacher once made to me: “Get started for a year, then look back and you will see there is a theme.” It seems as if all the work is being rearranged.
The theme that came up was “The Upright Man“. I was quite excited about that because it covers both the areas of guidance and artistry. They connect each other and ensure cross-pollination.
With “standing” as one of the 4 dignities of man. Standing then has several aspects to it. It refers not only to standing itself, but also to standing up, rising, as a process.
“Standing” here is not only the concrete physical aspect of standing upright, head in the wind, visible and with a view. Staying upright against the Earth’s gravity.
I also mean it symbolically. In the sense of straight back, standing in front of yourself, upright into the world. The world here is not just the outside world, the people, circumstances, systems etc. It is also the inner world of your thoughts, beliefs, views, feelings. Both worlds have forces. These are forces that can pull you down, just like gravity. How do you relate to these forces, how do you stay upright, just like in the physical… How do I hold up against these worlds?
Standing is a dynamic reality, a constant dialogue with gravity. And then our standing also becomes our existence. In short, standing as the basis of our existence.
Part of this exhibition is a section of a larger project entitled “When Sisyphus and Godot meet”. This project is still under development and will also be on display in one of the coming years.
I would like to go into more detail about that later.
To be continued!
Martin Schelstraete
Studio: Aalsmeerderweg 230 1432 CW Aalsmeer
Telephone:+31 (0)6 – 51 49 15 82
E-mail: martin.schelstraete@gmail.com
Website: www.martinschelstraete.com
