The hand that gives

The hand that gives (2021)
The hand that gives is one of five performances from the series Innerworld for public space that Guda Koster and Frans van Tartwijk created for Brabants Kloosterleven (monastic life).
During the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven two one armed green figures, with green hats where their faces should be, appeared in front of the St-Catharina Church. From their insides they produced a long series of small objects: cups, plastic skulls, apples, small trophies, scissors, barbie dolls, candles, sunglasses and so on. The objects were offered to people passing by. Some objects were accepted as gifts, others neglected and simply dumped on the sidewalk. The two figures were unable to see what was going on around them and handing out stuff was their only means of communication. A performance about good intentions, interaction and (over)consumption
Duration 45 minutes.

Innerworld
The living sculptures used in Inner World are made from textiles, and the two performers are hidden inside them, but they aren’t theater costumes. The performers are invisible for the viewer, but can’t see anything themselves. The living sculptures show up, stand frozen and move only now and then. Whenever something does happen, the movements are simple and measured, but you couldn’t call it dancing. Sometimes sound is used, but you couldn’t call it music. Usually, the performances are not announced as public events and don’t happen at a scheduled time. The casual passersby are the audience.
Inner World is specifically about stillness. The immobility in between the action is just as important as the action itself. The viewers will have to wait and see what and if something will happen. In these works there are subtle references to religion, but they aren’t explicitly religious. The Performances of Inner World slow you down.
Commissoned by Brabants Kloosterleven