A contemplative walk along artworks in a cemetery.

Afterlife makes palpable what happens after life ends. As a curator I developed the outdoor counterpart on the cemetery. I involved artists who relate in an associative manner to the final destination and to related themes such as time, void, (in)finiteness, spiritualism, materialism, materiality, animism and transformation. Only artists who make their work with a certain conviction (for example, an Oriental, esoteric or philosophical point of view) participated. As a spectator you need to sense their belief. In the precarious site of a cemetery only art that emanates a sincerity of ideas or beliefs works. Insincerity and pretentiousness have no place here.

 Through their work the artists prompt you to think about transience and about who you are as a human being. With the exception of Valeska Soares, of whom I selected an existing work, each artist made a work specifically for this exhibition. These highly contemplative artworks create a reflective tension through this serene park. The exhibition at the museum and works on the cemetery connect to form a whole. The unique location, the personal theme, the commissioner (SKOR) and the two cooperation partners made it an interesting assignment. In the preliminary phase, particularly the cemetery, for which the importance of the relatives is paramount, was outspoken in the restrictions on this vulnerable location. This elicited, together with the other parties involved, inspiring conversations.

Afterlife took place at the cemetery and crematorium De Nieuwe Ooster and in Museum Tot Zover located at the same site.