Intiem (translated ‘intimate’) is a project by Stichting FAAM in collaboration with the GGD region Utrecht and the municipality of Utrecht. The waiting room of the sexual health department in the Stadskantoor has recently been redecorated, and this stimulated FAAM to organize a quarterly exhibition in which love, sexuality and sexual pleasure are the central themes. The project stimulates young art historians and artists to work together.
Third exhibition: Viva la Vulva
In the third expositie (January to April) the works of artists Chelsea van der Bend (2000) and Isa Kronemeijer (2001) are at display. The works are accompanied by a text written by art historian Joëlle de Jong (2001). Read below what she has to say:
Breaking the stigma
In her work, Fashion Design student at the HKU Isa Kronemeijer (2001), wants to break the stigma that exists around intimate body parts. Her clothing collection Lady Garden (2021) is an ode to the vulva. Isa shows that the vulva is a unique and elegant part of the body, that people shouldn’t be ashamed of. She realizes this idea by creating garments that are associated with elegance, like a pencil dress and a blazer. She incorporates vulvas in different shapes in the collection to celebrate diversity. In the picture you see a model wearing an item from the collection. An image of rosy vulvas has been projected on the photo. The colorful shapes, diverse materials and playful projection create a lighthearted scene that contrasts with the existing taboo around the vulva.
Pure & without judgement
Chelsea van der Bend (2000), Fine Art student at the HKU, approaches the theme of sexuality from a queer perspective. She does this from her own experience and identity but also uses existing visual material from the pornographic industry. In the paintings Out of Context I & II (2021-22), Chelsea works with photos she made with an analog filter which were then simplified until they were unrecognizable. These images are painted on canvas with oil paint. This way, she wants to portray lesbian women in the purest way. The unrecognizable, almost abstract shapes of the paintings force the viewer to look objectively and without prejudice. The warm colors increase the feeling of intimacy.
Second exhibition: Individuele intimiteit (individual intimicy)
In the second exhibition (September to January) the work of artist Nadia Marouf (1993) is at display. Her work is accompanied by a text written by art historian Evi Mijnster (1999). Read below what she has to say:
Intimacy plays an important role in the works of Nadia Marouf (1993). With her photography series For the Love of Touch (2019), she explores personal intimacy. This individual and intimate experience is achieved by framing the images and zooming in on specific details. Nadia shows us that we do not always need another person to be intimate. We can also love ourselves without ‘the other’. Warm colors and earthly tones dominate her work, causing a strong, more intimate perception. The texture of materials and the feelings that are evoked when touching them are also important aspects in the works of Nadia. The artwork depicted on the front of this card almost makes you feel the pink inflatable tube underneath your fingertips.
First exhibition: Het bloeit vanbinnen (it flourishes inside)
In the first exhibition (July to September) FAAM shows the work of artists Lucas Braak (2001) and Jennifer Knuchel (2001), accompanied by a text by art historian Cécile Steenman (1999). You can read her text below:
The artworks in front of you give you a look into the life of Lucas Braak (2001). Braak is a queer artist and Jennifer Knuchel’s (the maker of the photographs) (2001) muse. What started as a friendship flourished into a romantic relationship. The photographs and illustrations tell their story through a separate lenses. The works are brave and personal and grew from a bond of trust between Knuchel and Braak. They ask the following questions: How do you treat your body and your past? And how do you show this to the outside world?