SIMEON VAN DER HOEVEN
CREATIVES IN PARADISE
SIMEON VAN DER HOEVEN
photos: Simeon Van der Hoeven
interview: Teddy Marks
Simeon describes himself as a healing and visionary artist rather than a photographer.
In his photographs, a group of people come together to find more connection and balance within themselves during the photographic process of his visual works.
During the preparations for his exhibition in Ghent, we had some time to talk about his art, his works and about this and that in life.
Simeon, how did you start your day today?
I started my day with a tour in my current living place: the city of Antwerp in Belgium. It has been a very influential city in art, architecture and design for many centuries. This morning I walked around to observe some of the hidden messages about nature and our cosmos, integrated in the beautiful Art Nouveau buildings you can see in the streets. I also visualized some opportunities to display my art and message in this city, which has really been needing a bit more nature the past few years.
In your fascinating photographs, human bodies are often found in geometric arrangements in sensational scenic landscapes. To what extent have man and nature as a unity and man as part of nature become a central theme for you?
Throughout my own inner journey of making sense of the world and myself, nature has played the most vital role. Being in nature, as a part of it rather than apart from it, has given me most of the answers and insights that I needed. I have found great solace being in nature and have reconnected with a powerful source inside of me, and wish to share the same now with others through my art.
Humans are the only species on this planet that have learned the ability to manipulate and seemingly control nature. We have been continuously detaching ourselves from nature over the past hundreds of years, with the industrial revolution and artificial lighting leading the way. This has brought great developments for the human species, but we often forget that as a by-product of this increasing industrialization and automatization, we have started to become like robots: carefully tuned to sustain a daily rhythm of productivity and soullessness. The main issue is that our bodies and minds only had a few generations to adapt to this rhythm, and most people are unable to do so in a healthy way. We see an enormous increase in individuals struggling with mental health issues and auto-immune disease. At the same time, the planet gets increasingly polluted and destroyed as well. The main purpose of my art is to get across the message that there is no separation between us and nature, and everything we do to the planet or our own inner nature, we ultimately will have to suffer ourselves. I think understanding this is the first step in a larger spiritual view of our purpose and place here on earth. Therefore, I see my art as a servant of this message.
Mitosis Part 1 - Limited Print Edition available in our shop
“THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MY ART IS TO GET ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS NO SEPARATION BETWEEN US AND NATURE.”
Creatio Ex Nihilo - Limited Print Edition available in our shop
Glaciers’ Call
We assume, your photos are not only beautiful, but always tell a story …
That’s correct! All my works carry deep messages and have hints of ancient symbolism, spirituality and philosophy. When I intuitively create my projects, I always come to conclusions and insights that many people before me have had already. They are not only telling stories from my own personal perception, but also stories that you can see throughout different time periods in human history. These stories tend to repeat themselves, because humans are the best at obtaining awareness about certain topics and then forgetting about it for a generation or two. We learn from mistakes, and we learn from constant forgetting and remembering, becoming increasingly more aware at every cycle.
My works tell these collective stories.
“WE LEARN FROM MISTAKES, AND WE LEARN FROM CONSTANT FORGETTING AND REMEMBERING, BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE AWARE AT EVERY CYCLE..”
Sahasrara - Limited Edition Print available in our shop
You are one of the few artists dedicated to photography, yet you don't call yourself a photographer or photo artist, but rather a Healing & Visionary Artist, as per your Instagram account. What part of your work as an artist comes from photography and what approach to photography have you experienced through your work?
The main reason is that photography as a term is too narrow to describe what I am currently creating. Apart from being an artist, I am the founder of the Enrootment Method: a multidimensional approach to help and aid individuals in their healing journey, physically, mentally and spiritually. I also see this as an art, because it involves a lot more feeling and experimentation than for example only offering verbal therapy. My visual work is an extension of this larger purpose, and the projects are always a group process in which people come to find more connection and balance within themselves. This explains the healing aspect of the title I like to give myself. The visionary part comes from the deep spiritual and intimate connection I have with what some people would call the universe. I often intuitively receive a message or a vision that wants to be expressed through me, and I am only the physical bridge between the source of this message and the physical creation of it here on earth. This unexplainable and almost mystic phenomenon often finds a way in my work.
The last few years, my visual work has expressed itself mostly through still images, but I also have a wide background in music, and I am currently bringing all these visions together in different audio-visual displays.
Anorganic
Muladhara - Limited Edition Print available in our shop
Microcosmic - Limited Edition Print available in our shop
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In your photos there are sometimes dozens of naked people. How do you get so many people together in one place, who are not only willing to undress, but also patiently follow your instructions to create these geometric figures, considering that it's not always pleasantly warm and you have to deal with all kinds of weather conditions.
There is no straightforward way to bring these projects to life and it always involves long preparations, hard work and smart planning. It is a process that asks for a lot of reflection, personal growth and learning to hold a safe and controlled space for everyone involved, whilst also still being creative. Throughout the years, the projects have started to create a community of people wanting to indulge themselves in this experience and inviting more people to join them. I observe that there is an enormous need to reconnect with nature and find liberation from all the shame around the naked body and being vulnerable with others. There is also great beauty in exposing yourself to the weather and nature because it makes you humble, and it strips you away from most of the daily superficial worries we have about our lives. I am incredibly grateful for everyone’s dedication and willingness to participate in my visions since they could not have been brought to life without those people.
Feminine Rising
Unfhold Part 2
What do you wish you could achieve with your photography and art?
A global shift in consciousness and an increase in spiritual wellbeing for all.
Who or what is at the top of your to-do list?
I prefer to not share my secrets before I bring them to the world. 😊
What puts you in a good mood when you're in a bad mood?
I don’t necessarily feel like I need to shift my mood when I am in a “bad” mood, but dancing, music and moving my body helps me to express what is currently happening inside of me and bring some air, causing my mood to shift.
Mitosis Part 2
Homeostasis
Morning Light
“ART CAN HEAL THESE WOUNDS AROUND PERFECTION, AND THAT’S WHY I LOVE WORKING WITH HUMAN BODIES: THEY ARE A DISPLAY OF PERFECT IMPERFECTION.”
Trauma
Swadisthana - Limited Edition Print available in our shop
What is your true moment of happiness when taking pictures?
When, after months of preparations and envisioning a project, everything follows its natural flow, and the final form finally gets revealed. It is such a fulfilling experience to witness these human geometric figures or displays take shape and see them from the sky or through my lens for the first time in physical reality. It is a feeling I cannot describe in words and something that makes me most aligned as a human being.
What would you most like to be complimented on?
I often notice that it brings me immense joy if someone recognizes the long and complex work that is involved in birthing these projects. I think it has a lot to do with months of investing all my time, energy and resources into these works, often feeling very alone and misunderstood in being so dedicated to my art and message. I could make it much easier for myself and use a lot of Photoshop or even Artificial Intelligence to create the visions I have, but I always decide to take the more difficult journey, choosing to create it in the real world. When someone notices and compliments the dedication and authenticity behind this, a part inside of me opens and is extremely joyful for that recognition.
The City That Always Sleeps
Unfhold
Is there something you criticize in others that you don't succeed at yourself?
I notice that often, even after years of intense inner work, there still is that part inside of me that likes to judge people for not being perfect. This directly reflects to myself and my perfectionism, and my experiences as a young child being criticised. The paradox is that true perfection doesn’t exist in the entire universe, making it just perfect the way it is. Art can heal these wounds around perfection, and that’s why I love working with human bodies: they are a display of perfect imperfection.
What do you want to achieve by the end of this year?
I feel that having too many expectations on outcome and achievements obscure my vision of what is already making its way towards me. Therefore, I prefer to stay open and ready to embrace what is supposed to cross my path.
What are your next projects, which you can already talk about?
I will be touring around the world this summer to bring the Healing Art projects to different countries and communities. I will be hosting them on my own initiative and in partnership with different organizers of conscious festivals, gatherings and organizations. You can expect a lot of new works with new backgrounds, shapes and sizes!
Thank you Simeon for your time and words!
SIMEON VAN DER HOEVEN
Creative in Paradise: Simeon Van der Hoeven
Interviewer: Teddy Marks
April 2023
SIMEON VAN DER HOEVEN
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