Mientje plays hide and seek with her earthy self. She finds refuge in her house, surrounded by her objects of choice. For her, treasure hunting is a great pleasure. Excitement mixed with surprise and sprinkled with years of dust and dreams. Some objects feel weirdly familiar, attracting her attention with detail and color, others magnetize her eyes, whispering spells in her ears, never letting go. In the past she was collecting, archiving, pilling up bowls, playing with colors and shapes, nowadays she is more selective, reductive, looking for ways to go more inside.

“Painting is my portal. Before entering I ask for guidance, allowing the process of creation to become an open source for any light being, internet dweller, and friendly spirits. Trust is the only way to go, here is no place for heady control or nagging thoughts. It feels like the outcome is not mine anymore, so I take a photo and share it.”

“These days I work on paper, using gouache, ink, and watercolor.  Watercolor has an intuitive quality to it, its own nature. I just let it happen, try not to think too much, and honor the moment.  Each brush I use has its own language and I try to learn it on the go.  Repetition and rhythm are my keys to meaning. The stripes, dots, and paper are their own universe the same way cells and atoms fill our body. Using stripes and dots gives me freedom, expands my boundaries, allows me to experience a primal state. The works are extremely layered, and it’s difficult to stop. Loaded with vivid information, symbols appear - being read differently by my husband or my son, this aspect makes me happy.”

“When I was eight years old, I remember coming back from school, seeing my deceased grandfather laying in our living room, dressed up and embalmed. I touched his thick white hair, told him about my day, and continued with my homework. This must have been my first spiritual experience which told me how close life and death are.”

“I feel connected to people, I can feel their pain and energies, to me, it’s very noticeable. Practicing mediumship is not only about spirits and secret messages but mainly a way to sharpen my sensitivity and intuition.”

“In my years as a student at the art academy in Antwerp, I learned many techniques and ways to paint. I had the predisposition to create hard, big, and critical works. Now I know that mastering an ability means to leave your experience behind, trusting it’s there when you need it but relying solely on your body and emotions. I feel connected to Hilma af Klint,  CoBRA, outsider and folk art.”

“I wish to create a place of rest. A place to allow people to be how they are. While people create, their true nature comes to life. This is my mission through art. More than anything, I would like to grow very very old and to be able to try lots of new things.”

- Hadas Cnaani, Friend of the artist