Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy for Weariness with “Pneumanima 3 (Little Bird Carried by Night) by Jordan Herregraven, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY FOR WEARINESS: The artwork shows a little bird being carried by a dark figure, Death, slowly walking towards the afterlife. As a remedy, Death has been given a resting spot, where, if only for a little while, it can pause its journey between worlds. A soft pillow allows Death to lie down and celebrates the life of the little bird a while longer. Pins all around the cushion form the sentence "Blessed be the eyes that saw her alive", inspired by a Memento Mori object by Percy Shelley, mourning his wife Mary Shelley.
GREIGE FANTASTIC, curated by Maia Kenney, proposes a strange world within the corporate universe, usually a site of regulation and bureaucracy. In this world, represented by 17 artworks from Dutch corporations, art objects have the power to change their environment and the people they interact with.
Petrozzi plays the role of a ‘witch’ who somehow finds herself in the backrooms of an office. Here, she finds artworks that have come alive, changed by years on the walls of a corporate workplace. But they have needs and wishes that are not yet granted. Petrozzi tries to discover what the artworks need to be freed from their day-to-day life, if only for the duration of the exhibition. She confronted the artists and their works with a questionnaire, asking questions like “What makes the artwork laugh?” and “What would its final meal be?”
Petrozzi produced 17 interventions for each of the 17 artworks on show based on their answers.
“For the exhibition Greige Fantastic, Kenney invited the Italian multimedia artist Ginevra Petrozzi to bring to life seventeen artworks that normally hang somewhere in an office, bank, hospital, or crematorium. Petrozzi devised a magnificent form for this, inspired by magical thinking and surrealist writing techniques. In conversation with those who knew the artwork best, namely the artists, investigated what each artwork might be missing or secretly needed, and tried to devise a visual intervention for it. The interviews with the artists can be read alongside the artworks” - Volkskrant
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art
objects, Remedy for “Airborne, Ebony” by Josefina Anjou, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY TO CALL WIND: Airborne, Ebony is in a constant state of existence and metamorphosis. The remedy consists of several fans cooling down the room and recreating the Air quality of the artwork, which thrives in wind. The air in the room will become chilly and crisp, just like the artwork prefers, since it is encased in wax. Engraved on the blades of the fans, some prehistoric drawings describing the elements will remind the artwork of its all-encompassing power and the universal language it is capable of.
REMEDY TO FORTIFY BROTHERLY LOVE: The painting tells the story of a Duvelbanner, a figure in Frisian folklore who was considered a kind of magician, one who could drive spirits away. In this specific instance, the Duvelbanner is freeing the ghost of two brothers who died. The first brother died because of too much alcohol, and the second brother died of sadness caused by the passing of his sibling. The remedy for the painting is to look into a mirror partially covered by soil, coming from Friesland. The smell of Friesland will remind the painting of its history. Engraved in the mirror, the sentence “Zij zijn voor altijd verenigd” (They are united forever), reminds the brothers of their everlasting love, even in the afterlife.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy to bring abundance with “A New Sage (Apkallu)” by Müge Yilmaz, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY TO BRING ABUNDANCE: The artwork protects entrances from people with ill intentions, and brings good harvests. As a remedy, it is given a miniature wooden door to protect, filled with sheaves of wheat, so it can smell the perfume of a good harvest. In that way, it can taste a bit of the outside world, even if it must stay inside, and still perform its magic function.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy to create synergy with Juliette Minchin, “Oculus 11”; Oscar Santillán, “The Enemy”; Kevin Osepa, “Blou Blous”, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY TO CREATE SYNERGY:
These artworks depict three fundamental elements: Fire (Oculus 11), Water (Blou Blous), and Earth/Minerals (The Enemy). Next door is Air (Airborne, Ebony). The four elements as represented by these artworks have never been in the same space together. The remedy is meant for them to find strength in each other through an audio piece imagined on prehistoric instruments which evoke the simple strength of the four elements—perhaps triggering the artworks to work in unison.
REMEDY TO SEE THINGS MORE CLEARLY: Sainte Odile can perform miracles regarding the sight: heal eyes, see things more clearly or even receive enlightenment. It will be surrounded by votive offerings depicting eyes. They will be the witnesses of Sainte Odile’s miracles that many have received and many can receive in the future. Visitors are welcome to ask Sainte Odile for miracles too. If your miracle is granted, you should come back to Sainte Odile and give thanks by bringing her an offering.
REMEDY FOR SOLITUDE: Bismarck is a creature of the night. His peculiarity must be celebrated; he should laugh and feel love. The remedy for Bismarck is a dinner with five guests, during which his favorite food (red meat) will be served and the guest of honor will be the person who has known him the longest: the artist who made him.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy to inspire awakenings, with “Witches Mirror” by Hadassah Emmerich, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY TO INSPIRE AWAKENINGS: The artwork is a kaleidoscopic mirror encasing more mirrors, reflecting images, plants and flowers. Its role is to remind those who look into it of their beauty, strength and power. As a remedy to awaken the artwork, and support it in its function, it is surrounded by a jasmine scent, induced by the jasmine flowers laying in front of it, as symbols of beauty and awakenings.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy for hubris, with “Woven Talisman #02 The Social Influencer“ by Marcos Kueh, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY FOR HUBRIS: The Social Influencer is exhibited in a position of honour in the space, so it can receive the attention and the spotlight that the god craves. The artwork is surrounded by pots and pans made of metal, and on specific dates they will be banged on, as to wake the god, and remind him of his own insignificance.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, Remedy for hubris, with “Hinge” by Fiona Lutjenhuis, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
REMEDY TO PROTECT VISIONS: “Hinge” depicts the artist’s dream with her sisters filled with Bonsai Trees and a scene of her parents watching the eclipse in their backyard. The artwork evokes an intimate world that one should discover slowly without rushing in. As its shape suggests a door, the remedy is to surround it with a circle made of brooms, used often to protect a threshold from unwanted or rushed visitors.
Magical Remedies to retrieve the animatedness of art objects, (left) Remedy for belonging with “Zittende Olifant“ byTheresia van der Pant, (right) Remedy for inner voices with “It's time to wake up” and “Thanks to spring 2” by Odonchimeg Davaadorj, VBCN, De Nederlansche Bank, 2026
For more pictures of the exhibition please enquire : ginevra.petrozzi@gmail.com