The Artist background
1960
Out of nothing, with no targeted education, the artists’ father designed and built a house on wild forest land.
The land had to be partly deforested and the house built was all done by hand and minimal means.
It was a daring undertaking that commanded admiration.
But necessary as tuberculosis had spread in the family, grandfather, the then youngest daughter
and also mother could not return to the dusty farmhouse where untill then they lived.
Cecilia was born in 1961 at this new location.
A 5th girl was a disappointment, but due to the problematic birth and mother’s illness, father mainly nurtured her and an instinctive close bond was formed.
Her first year of life was filled with carpentry sounds and whistling of forest and meadow birds.
This forest home, on the dirt road, was later called the ‘De Woelgeest’ best translated : ‘The Termoil spirit’
Eleven months later, Jack was born, the boy who grew up with a very sensitive and withdrawn nature among six mothers
and a father who expected a lot.
The family was harassed by a narrow-minded village mentality. The nearby residential area in the forest was safe and protected.
But the children were bullied at school and disadvantaged by the head of the elementary school, which the father vehemently and in the end successfully opposed.
Where there are enemies, there are also friends, and these were found in the more intellectual circles.
The parents maintained power over their own dignity, were confident and self-reliant with a keen social and creative intelligence.
Creativity and musicality gave the family dynamism and a spirit of expression.
There was very little money, father formerly a farmer became a factory worker, a tool grinder who returned from work at night and then had to continue with repairs in and around his house or maintaining the vegetable garden.
Mother earned extra with cleaning, knitting to order and sewing clothes.
No vacations. These we spent at home, in the forest, by the river.
From church congregations children from the GDR came during the summer holidays, and together with staying with relatives all over the country gave a small glimpse of life outside the village.
The sixties were a tumultuous time. A time when much attention was focused on the four handsome teenage girls.
Jack and Ceciel remained under the radar.
Their view of the world became quiet, contemplative and melancholy.
In the seventies, as the sisters moved out one by one, came tranquility.
There was a regrouping, a smaller family, without the adolescent older sisters. But now there was the ‘later-born’ little Lucas who was a comfort to all and also growing up even more in isolation than Jack and Ceciel had been, deep in the woods.
This time period was special
When immediate emotional uncontrolled noise disappears and feeling and senses can develop through reflection, the possibility of turning creativity into art arises.
Jack and Ceciel grew up together from kindergarten to the conservatory and art school. After his military service, Jack went on to study at the conservatory.
Ceciel, by now working in youth care , also went back to school that same time to the art academy. An artistically beneficial exchange, a wonderful time.
Then came partner relationships; Jack even started a family. From that time their worlds began to separate.
In 1988, the house “ De Woelgeest” was sold.
The ground and source of our soul.
Ceciel moved to Amsterdam and fell into a deep depression.
After a long time of gradual recovery dealing with the grieving process and ongoing identity confusion,
she rediscovered herself in studying Greek mythology and took interests in philosophy, poetry and Tibetan Buddhist psychology.
Her artistry deepened in various forms. She studied voice under Marjanne Kweksilber, performed regularly and taught singing for many years.
She studied tai chi chuan Yangstyle lineage Grandmaster William CC Chen, became active in international tai chi chuan organizations and is still practicing and teaching tai chi chuan to this day.
Painting, drawing and embroidery continued steadily with a few successful exhibitions. As of 2012, embroidery is her main visual art medium.
Much of the atmosphere in her work springs from where she grew up;
her father’s two acres of private forest, the farmers’ environment, the meadows, the river, are reflected in the effigies.
It is the source from which she was formed.
Especially the longing and the ability to return in her mind to an uncomplicated freedom in a peaceful, quiet and solitary place, the protected nature reserve,
being surrounded by and climbing those trees around the beloved house
“The Turmoil spirit”.
EMBROIDERY WORK :
This work is figurative, symbolic and focused on harmony. It does not adhere to so-called art rules or modernities. It has a pure instinctive identity,
totally detached from any trends or “artistic acceptance.”
Completely autonomous and made from a creative desire to generate artistic beauty.