(2025) The first two and a half months of this year, I did an artist residency in Polopos (Andalusia, Spain). It was a beautiful time. I learned a lot and came back to the Netherlands feeling richer. Not financially, but in every other way. Before leaving for Polopos, I made one promise to myself: I would “follow the signs” and see where they would lead me. When I arrived in Spain, I immediately sensed the presence of Catholicism in the air. That felt like a sign. Even though I wasn’t raised Catholic, it sparked my curiosity. I started diving into Bible stories and began attending mass in the local church each week.
All my life I’ve been wondering: what am I doing here on earth? What is love? Why do we humans cause each other so much suffering? I hoped to find answers to those questions in the stories of the Bible. So I started painting biblical scenes. I didn’t exactly find the answers to life’s big, unanswered questions, but it did give me some guidance.
Meanwhile, the idea came up to give Polopos a gift in the form of a mural. In the studio, I painted the two doves of peace on canvas and I could picture them clearly on a wall somewhere in the village. The most beautiful place to paint them would, of course, be on the church itself. So I started making that happen.
During mass, I asked the priest and the church council for permission. Everyone was enthusiastic and said yes without hesitation. That went surprisingly smoothly. Then I still had to speak to the neighbours. That part was less smooth. Maybe it makes sense that things need to stir a bit before peace can settle in. Eventually I managed to get everyone on the same page and I could finally start painting the mural.
At the very end of my time in Polopos, I organised an exhibition with the help of the lovely Thysa and Wijnand at Casa3, where I showed the artworks I made during my stay. At the beginning of my time in Polopos I found it difficult to connect with people. I don’t speak Spanish and I can be a little shy. But because of the mural and the exhibition I was able to connect with the people of the village through my art. It was a beautiful experience to see that this also works abroad, even when you don’t speak the language. My visual language turned out to be universal, and that makes me feel incredibly rich.
With special thanks to Thysa and Wijnand https://www.casa3polopos.com
With love,
STHOM
