Artist in Residence - Winter School A Cult of the Earth - Theun Karelse
Academy of Architecture 2024
The Academy of Architecture invited artist Theun Karelse to be AIR for the 2024 Winter School programme. The Winter School was held in January 2024.
Theun Karelse (Borssele 1974) studied at St. Joost and Sandberg Institute. His experimental practice explores the boundaries between art, environment, technology and archaeology. Theun initiates and participates in research programmes. His most recent programme was at ARTIS Royal Zoo, where he initiated the Machine Wilderness artist-in-residency programme and a student programme with the Art Science Interfaculty.
Theun has been working for many years with field biologists, farmers and indigenous groups active in ecosystem and landscape regeneration in Europe, India and Africa. His outdoor studio consists of several gardens that serve as testing grounds for urban biodiversity, climate adaptation and indigenous knowledge systems. His floating garden in Westerpark is welcoming the otter back to the city after 50 years of absence, and he is documenting several years of research with Ambassade van de Noordzee in a publication.
During the Winter School, all first and second year students worked on an assignment as an interdisciplinary team. This assignment challenged and crossed the boundaries of the three fields of study, and trained the students’ intuition to transform an idea into an inspired product within a limited time span. They explored the power of rituals and practiced connecting with the cycles and rhythms of the land, sea, air and cosmos. The result was a collective feast, a celebration in colour, movement, smell, taste and sound.