A Moving Cathedral
is the combination of two passions and fascinations: a mandala and a labyrinth. For years I worked on both, separately. Only recently I discovered the strength of their combination. It was actually the reminiscence of an experience in the Cathedral of Chartres. Standing there, being blown away by the intense colours of the glass Rose-window and seeing the labyrinth on the floor, although it was not possible then to walk on.
There have been many times when pilgrims took the road, looking for salvation. Leaving the wellknown, leaving comfort, leaving everything behind to free them of their burden. To free them from pain, from guilt, to free them from themselves so to speak.
Among the sacred places they visited were cathedrals, overwhelming in their splendour of glass windows in vibrant colours and a labyrinth to walk in. A compressed way of experiencing the long road they had travelled so far.
We rarely visit these places anymore to contemplate, and certainly not after a long and arduous journey.
Is there no need for this anymore?
How would it be to turn it around, I thought: To go out on the road and look for people and bring the cathedral to them? Can you be a pilgrim and unaware of it?
More and more people are on the move. On their way to a place to be happy. On their way to a new or better life. This could involve even the daily traffic to and from work. But also the moving to a new country, not knowing what to expect, hoping for kindness and a possibility to breathe.
The first stop was in a church. The Geertekerk in Utrecht, the Netherlands who invited me to partake in their event to celebrate the summersolstice. They wanted to offer an opportunity to cautiously open up again after the long period of Covid-recluse. To meet carefully in the presence of art.
I invited people to walk the labrinth, slowly and carefully, and take a moment to really experience reaching the centre. I was surprised by the eagerness of many people to join and to stand still in the middle. There they could enjoy the stillness and gaze at the mandala. Looking at the enormous complexity of forms and shapes, colours tumbling over each other. And seeking for their spot to fit in. Finding their shape that fitted in.
What I found out is: You have to take the journey to find what’s inside of you. You need to go out to get in.
And when you come out again the world may have changed a little. Because you have.
The next stop was be in Berlin. I got invited to take part in the exhibition Beyond Belief, an exploration of the current views of international artists on the Divine. Pantheistic, monistic, holistic, relativistic. A perfect reason to go on the road.
Beyond belief was held in Haus Kunst Mitte at the heart of Berlin from the 18th of september until the 21th november 2021.
Again visitors were invited to walk the labyrinth and ponder on a question they took with them on this road. And some of them shared their experience with me.
“ Dear artist,
— MICHAELA FROM BERLIN
I take the question into the labyrinth if I am on the right way.
So I notice at one place I thought, I was wrong, so take a wrong step and don’t get to my goal, to the center. Then I heard this voice in my head: TRUST! YOU ARE RIGHT!
So, then I could see, that everything was ok, I take every step really concious and calm and so everything was at the right place. So when I entered the center, it was somehow like coming home, be insight of me, close my eyes and felt love for myself and everything is right… then looking at the picture at the wall and also see the center and get in a meditative feeling. After that walking out,, get back to the outer world… thank you so much for that experience… 🙏💝”
And now she’s on the move again. I got invited to install her in Galerie van Slagmaat during the Rainbow week in Woerden, the Netherlands. There she will be waiting for you in the exhibition “Labyrint”. A beautiful coming together of soulsearching and ‘coming out’. Celebrating the diversity of colours and paths, offering you the opportunity to go within and come out a little diferently.
Walk the labyrint. Take with you a question or listen to the audio-file in English or Dutch. And I ‘d love to hear your experience! Send me an e-mail: beatrijswind.art(apestaartje)gmail.com
“
— KEES FROM WOERDEN
Friday afternoon I stood before your beautiful mandala in Woerden. It moved me and the composition and beautiful colours brought me happiness. I didn’t even need the labyrinth for that..”
And after that? I hope to take the road again, find new places to install A Moving Cathedral for a little while, meet new people and new stories. If you know who I should meet or where I should go: let me know and send me an e-mail….