Visiting Vrouw Muskens

Artists Judith Kuijpers, Stijn Rompa, and Niels Ballemans are the initiators of Vrouw Muskens, an artist-in-residence program in an old tannery in Dongen in the south of The Netherlands.

The factory is located next to the river Donge, where many factories liked to dispose their wastewater, Stijn explains during the studio presentation. On the ground floor, between the industrial tumblers of which some are still in use, guest artists Fenna Koot, Emmie Liebregts present the results of their stay at GGz Breburg and Mijzo Foundation, both mental healthcare facilities. Artist Martijn van Elferen occupies the top floor with an installation of drawings and objects.

In 2022 Vrouw Muskens launched its residency program of one-month placements for artists at GGz Breburg and Mijzo Foundation. The artists sleep, eat, and work amidst the clients, while they have a studio next door at Vrouw Muskens, where also the organizers have their artistic practice.
Fenna Koot, Emmie Liebregts, and Martijn van Elferen seem satisfied with their experience. Fenna explains: "After a week of mutual discomfort, I connected with the daily routine. My presence was not functional within this hyper-efficient care system, which interested me: Could I take part nonetheless?" For Emmie being a guest is a position she wants to explore. "How can I be a good guest? What does it mean to take care of another person?" She dedicated her time to observe, and listen to the stories of the people around her. But then again, what will you bring, and what are you taking with you – questions relevant to any residency endeavor where encounters and exchanges occur within a mutual relation of trust. Martijn, on the other hand, took the opportunity of exploring the fringes of our self-made realities. He calls to conjure colorful spaces of play and magic and created, among other things, intriguing masks together with the clients.

The name Vrouw Muskens refers to the local inn where artists used to stay at the beginning of the 19th century to paint in the nearby dunes, forests, and traditional farmlands. Painters like August Allebé, Jozef Israëls, Max Liebermann, Albert Neuhuys, Suze Robertson, and Jan Veth would visit Dongen regularly. As their work became well known, inspired also other artists to visit the area.

It is precisely what the current initiative aspires, through the guest studio's, once again facilitating space in Dongen for artists to stay and dedicate themselves to their artistic practice. And as befits an inn, the mutual contact between guests and hosts is of added value as well, exchanging ideas, networking, and reflecting on each other's practice.