More than looking for singular technical shots, Herlinde works to develop her own language of seeing. She doesn’t view things as fixed or finished but seeks ongoing (personal) development.

Like catching just one frame in a movie, it is hard to single out Herlinde’s images. She tries to capture life as it goes by, so the outcome is often stills, rather than poses. Her photo series can be seen as little films, not a singular moment in time but a part of the larger flow. 

With her work, Herlinde motivates people to take time and trigger deeper insights. Her images feel timeless at first glance but share a snapshot view of the present.

Herlinde is the art director and co-founder of Different Class (formerly Subbacultcha Belgium). Different Class is an independent membership promoting emerging artists and supporting audiences through a curated agenda and editorials.

(c) profile picture: Lars Duchateau

When the feelings grab me and the whirlwind of emotions strike me, I gotta draw and I love what I draw.

" I was not born for one corner; the whole world is my native land." by Lucius Annaeus Seneca was what I read when little and imprinted in my memory till now. I was used to be a visual effect artist for 10 years, but I have loved art since little. The passion to paint never fades out and the desire is getting stronger than ever during the Covid. Therefore, I decided to take the road not taken. As an emerging and self-taught artist, I’d like to explore more of my creative approaches and expand my source of inspiration through travel and artist residencies programs. I believe this cultural exchange experience with others and the local community will greatly enrich my art journey and further develop my future independent project.

Oftentimes, I'm drawn and moved based on the change of environment. Mental and physical states could be rejuvenated quickly and infuse me. I used charcoal, colour pencil, and oil pastels to draw and paint. I am influenced and inspired by Impressionist artists who offered a different way of seeing and developed new techniques back then. Themes I'm intrigued by could range from mundane day to day life, people I meet, nature I am touched or emotions like depression or anger. Encounters with another culture and meeting various artists are what I’m craving for, and always trigger me to create more with fresh perspectives and stories. It's vital as my source of inspiration to begin my ongoing project.

I intend to create a virtual museum encompassing all my artworks. It invites audiences from all over the world without geographical barriers and time-zone differences to join. It allows viewers to immerse themself and enjoy artworks in a non-conventional space. I would like viewers to resonate with my paintings inspired by countries I stayed and allow them to experience an inner adventure in this virtual museum. It's the artistic vision I'd like to realize eventually and till then I need to propel myself through artistic residency to collide and create more works.

Ruby Rare (she/they) is an award-winning sex and relationships expert. Through her writing, public speaking, and presenting, she’s on a mission to get people talking more confidently and inclusively about all the topics we were taught to feel shame about. They’re a proud ambassador for Brook, the UK’s leading sexual health charity, author of  Sex Ed: A Guide for Adults, and host of the podcast docu-series In Touch, which explores the ways we connect to sex, relationships, and our bodies with nuance and curiosity. Ruby is currently working on her second book, The Non-Monogamy Playbook (title tbc). 

She’s been featured in the Guardian, the Independent, and Huffington Post, to name a few, and has spoken at TedXLondon, Women of the World Festival,and on BBC Woman's Hour. She’s listed as one of 24 figures making a positive change to social media in Cosmopolitan's Positivity Index, and is on The DIVA Power List, which celebrates queer trailblazers changing the game for LGBTQ+ representation.

Luisa Porta, an Italian native born in Turin in 1964, is a renowned photographer specializing in architecture and interior design. Her fascination with contemporary art naturally led her to collaborate with art galleries and capture the artistic endeavors of various artists.

Her work has been featured in prestigious magazines within her field, including The Plan, Elle Decor, AD, Artribune, Living, Lampoon, and Nova Express.

Simultaneously, Luisa pursued personal projects that deeply resonated with her, often in collaboration with fellow photographer Daniele Ratti. One notable undertaking was the documentation of Oscar Niemeyer's architectural marvels.

Another compelling project revolved around Rachid Karami's International Fair, constructed in 1960 in Tripoli, Lebanon. While the project remained unfinished, Luisa Porta curated an exhibition and authored a book dedicated to this remarkable structure.

In her hometown of Turin, Luisa documented the Burgo paper mill, which was established in 1981 and serves as the company's administrative hub.

Her lens also ventured into the world of Sicilian Rationalism. She embarked on a research journey, meticulously capturing the abandoned state of rationalist villages constructed during the fascist era between 1937 and 1940. This insightful project found its way into publications such as Tiroir and Suq magazine.

Luisa Porta's passion for architecture extended to Eritrea, where she delved into the modernist architectural gems built in the 1930s during Italy's colonial rule under the fascist regime.

In the past two years, she expanded her creative horizons by venturing into the realm of cinema. Here, she assumed the role of a set photographer, contributing her artistic touch to various film productions.

Several years ago I visited Lanzarote for the first time, since then I have been completely mesmerized by this land, both in my role as a photographer and on a personal level.

This island possesses a well-defined intrinsic identity that gives it a unique character. The volcanic landscape, the simple architecture blend harmoniously with the location's nature, and the deep-rooted local traditions all contribute to the creation of an extraordinary atmosphere; impossible to find or replicate anywhere else. 

Furthermore, the indescribable warmth and hospitality the people of Lanzarote have shown me in my past visits and their dedication to preserving the local culture help shape the island's one-of-a-kind identity.

Lanzarote is considered an island with a fragile ecosystem. Its volcanic geology and arid climate have led to the creation of very specific environmental conditions, which require attentive care to ensure the island's natural balance is maintained.

Lanzarote's linear architecture evokes a deep emotional connection and a sense of belonging to the surrounding environment. The buildings seamlessly integrate into the volcanic landscape, using simple forms, local materials, and neutral colors. It is precisely this harmony between architecture and the natural environment, this sense of balance and continuity, this embracing of the surrounding nature rather than contrasting it, which deeply impressed and fascinated me.

Throughout my work in Lanzarote, I would like to reproduce this harmony by playing with the use of light, choice of perspective, composition, architectural and natural details, perspective and depth. 

It will be an ongoing project where the beautiful Lanzarote will guide me in making specific photographic choices regarding what and how to capture and reproduce strong sensations and emotions.

My final product would then be reproduced on a book created in collaboration with 'Paint it Black', a specialized publishing house in art focused on releasing magazines and books covering various sectors of the art world. They would assist me in translating visual and emotional sensations collected during the creative process. The book will be related by an art curator that will write for me the critical test. I believe their values will be aligned with mine and Hector’s. 

Oli Park (they/them) is a queer and non-binary artist, recipe developer and creative director based in Berlin, Germany. Born in New York, and raised by a chef and a cook specializing in Japanese and Korean cuisine, they were immersed in the crossroads of food and fashion. Formerly, they were part of Studio Human Beings, a duo creating work surrounding footwear/fashion, ecology and aroma with themes always surrounding food. Read about their past work on MOLD Magazine. In the US, SHB hosted intimate in real life as well as digital food-related experiences in their local community of friends as well as for galleries and brands. 

After moving to Berlin in 2021, Oli continued to expand their interest in food-related topics such as ceramics and wine. In 2023, they attended the School of Natural Wine in El Tiemblo, Spain, where they were introduced to the natural wine making processes from harvesting, crushing, fermentation, maceration, and bottling. During their on-field experience, they were also introduced to pedology (the study of soil), which opened up doors to critically consider sustainability and ecology in their work. Today, Oli continues to host intimate community dinner experiences in their flat in Kreuzberg and plans to expand into cafes and restaurants as well as social media. 

About the Project

Currently, by profession, they work as a creative director at Highsnobiety. Their immersion into the food and wine research and exploration happens outside of their day job, making art residencies like Hektor invaluable. During the residency, they plan to present a collection of 5 – 10 food explorations to help people who want to cook more at home be inspired and encouraged to compose dishes. Through harvesting, fermentation, preservation, and exploration, they hope to compose different tastes and textures. Oli will also create a series of sketches, paintings, and drawings to accompany. 

During his residency, Andrea created the perfect dinner playlist. Listen to it here.

Populous, aka Andrea Mangia, is a DJ and producer hailing from Lecce, in Southern Italy, known for his global approach to music-making. With a background in musicology, Populous has always been interested in disparate genres and styles of music, which is reflected in the output from the Populous project and its focus on Latin American sounds refracted through a European lens. In 2003, Mangia made his first jaunt into the music world with the album ‘Quipo’ (via Morr Music), followed by ‘Queue For Love’ in 2005. Influenced by his reggae/hip-hop-infused surroundings (Lecce is known as Italy’s Jamaica, as reggae and dancehall are extremely popular there) he released ‘Drawn in Basic’ in 2008, which was well received by international critics, earning him a spot on the global dance music map. The 2010s have seen Mangia refine the Populous sound with albums like ‘Night Safari’ (Bad Panda Records) and ‘Azulejos’ (Wonderwheel Recordings), while also expanding his role as a sound designer for fashion houses such as Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Isabel Marant, and Elie Saab, among others. In 2020, Populous released his most mature album to date, "W", an anthem to femininity in all its facets. "W" (for Women) is an invitation to accept our female side and a way of giving visibility to the issues that are dear to the artist, such as diversity and inclusion, central parts of his LGBTQ+ activist dialectic. In the same year, Populous collaborated with Christine & The Queens for the remix of "La Vita Nuova", thereby confirming his influence in the queer international underground scene.

New album

I'm currently working on a new album that should be called "Isola futura" (future island in english). The idea came from the first vacation I did in Lanzarote a couple of years ago, when I promised myself to get back to the island and make music. This will be an ambient album but with strong tropical rhythms in the background. That's why I like to describe the whole sound as "latin-ambient". 

Listen to Andrea’s music here.

Heleen Declercq is a director and cinematographer. By focusing on connection, Heleen captures the essence of every subject she touches. Heleen is most comfortable with the use of a docu-style in all genres. From an early age, Heleen has been captivated by the power of imagery to tell stories. As a young girl she spent countless hours documenting her own world with her mother’s camcorder. As she grew older, her passion for documentary filmmaking led her to pursue formal training at the RITCS school of Arts in Brussels. Her graduate project, GIRLHOOD, has been selected for inclusion in numerous film festivals.

More: heleendeclercq.com 

Lettera al Vajont 

After working on several commissioned documentaries for film as well as television, Heleen wants to focus on her personal documentary project ‘Lettera al Vajont’. It tells the story of the Italian Marcello, who doesn’t find an audience in his village to tell about the 1963 Vajont disaster of which he himself was one of many victims, so he writes to the dam itself. That same dam that created one of the greatest man-made disasters and flooded the entire village of Longarone. Because in the end, the dam itself was a victim too. During the residency Heleen wants to complete her research and start the editing proces of the first images of her artistic documentary. 

Line Pillet is a Belgian filmmaker. In January 2020, she was selected by Cité des arts Internationale Paris for a writing residency where she wrote the script of the short film Window that she finished in February 2023. Currently she is working on a new fiction film to evoke a dialogue with politicians and policymakers following the 2024 elections. The film advocates employment opportunities for sans-papiers in bottleneck occupations. Her films are marked by their intuitive character and strong images. Her work explores space and people in relation to each other and nature. The particular characters create their own universe. The central theme of her films is oppression in all its forms and the impossibility of going against our nature.

More about her: pilletline.com

Alfa

At Hektor, I would like to write the first episode of my miniseries Alfa. The drama series is about a villa neighborhood on the edge of a nature reserve. When a wolf pack shows up, conflict arises among the neighborhood residents. The focus of the series is on atypical family structures. Both families are single-parent families relying on a single mother figure. A few years ago, I got the idea to create a story about wolves in Belgium. It provides an interesting vehicle to talk about relevant themes such as nature policy, migration and social exclusion. 

Inge is a Dutch painter, born in the Netherlands in 1973. She is working as a professional visual artist since 2005. Inge studied at the Utrecht Art School (1992-1995) and she studied Cultural Anthropology (1995-1998) at the Amsterdam University, Netherlands.

After having lived in Spain for 10 years she currently lives and works in the Netherlands. Taking part in cultural exchanges, exhibitions and artists in residencies, her travels provide the perfect background for the expression of her twin passions, people & art. Inge is an observer, always training the eye and concentrating on people and their cultures in various environments.

Inge sees something remarkable in everyone, in every day life, experiences, landscapes, animals, people. She shows her observations in her painting proces. Inge alternates phases of exuberant figurative abstract works in colour and paint with concentrated minimalist work in ink or paintings in a sober palette. Focussing on painting just the necessary essential elements, the characteristics. In her (digital) drawings a lot is said by what is not drawn, just showing the essentials in a few lines.Her techniques in combination with the use of often wooden panels or recycled sails as her canvas is an integral part of Inge’s recognisable style.

By exhibiting her work, sharing it online and teaching Inge inspires people to (ex-)change perspectives.

Her work has been acquired by museums and private collections and has been exhibited internationally at various art venues and events. 

This residency I hope to find peace and time not only to work on ideas but also to explore new methods and techniques. Usually I work inside in a studio, I hardly ever work al aire libre. So in January I would like to do that. To go out and wander. To work, sketch, draw, paint the island. To explore the rock. And process it in the Hektor studio. I will bring the iPad and Chinese rice paper. And I will work on recycled boat sails from Lanzarote that to me represent freedom and show traces of travels.

Reflection of my personal relation to the island. Make the residency a personal process. I love to live with the feeling that I can always go abroad. I love wandering, looking for new places, meeting new people, different cultures. I like to stand just a little on the edge and observe. But Lanzarote is one of the few places I want to visit again, where I actually want to live again. Where I always feel inspired and energetic to work. Why is Lanzarote still so unique to me? Do I still want to travel or stay put when I grow older? How can I have both? Will I still be inspired by the island? Can I grow Roots on a Rock? 

Nousjka Daniëls, a graphic designer, has a deep affection for the worlds of books, illustrations, and games. Her journey in design led her to graduate from LUCA Ghent in 2014. Presently, she resides in Brussels and operates as a freelance designer.

Continuing her artistic exploration, Nousjka is currently enrolled at the Academie Beeldende Kunsten Anderlecht (ABKA). Her studies are focused on mastering various printmaking techniques, including silkscreen printing, linography, digital etching, and risography.

In her creative endeavors, Nousjka's artworks are vibrant and intricate assemblages of elements. Each component holds its own unique significance while intricately connecting with and influencing the others, resulting in visually captivating and meaningful designs.

During my stay, I want to collect forms, patterns, ideas, concepts, stories while going around the island. These findings will be bundled in an encyclopedia/archive, made with sustainable materials (pencils, paper scraps). Inspired by essays of Jorge Luis Borges – who rethinks taxonomy and pictures eternal libraries – I will let my impression of the island shape how to organize and categorize these elements and create a new visual language.

The goal of the project is to look closely at the environment, capture an impression of the culture and be conscience of my steps in the process.

www.nousjkadaniels.be

Award-winning Galician poet and performer Jesús Castro Yáñez, Os nomes e os himnos (2016), /\/\/\ (2017), and Ultramarino (2017), edited Campo de Plumas, an anthology of queer poetry. His translation of Anne Carson’s The Anthropology of Water is forthcoming. He has represented Galicia in various international festivals and workshops and his work has been translated into Greek, Finnish and Slovenian.

All of my work is deeply associated with nature and therefore with the way territory shapes identity and every relation between each element that comprises it. This is one of the main reasons I’m drawn to this residency and its marvelous location.

I did not notice that my first book revolved around rivers that much until a critic review pointed it out. It is no coincidence that I grew up near the source of the main river in Galicia, Miño river. My second book, called Ultramarine and written when I was living beside the river mouth onto the sea, consists of poems and blueprint images both made of light and sea water. Maybe the next book I’m trying to write will be influenced by the archipelago. That would be a very appropriate image: the project I’m working on studies the idea of communal creation and intertextuality, and the existence of every poem as a palimpsest of all the previous ones existing out there, communicating with each other, sampling and remixing each other in an infinite array of possibilities. As islands, they seem to be floating on their own, but every voice is deep down making part of the same greater thing, coexisting and cooperating.

I’m also translating Anne Carson’s book Autobiography of Red, an exploration of identity and desire that retells a greek myth through the lens of a homosexual relationship between two young lovers. The volcanic imagery is omnipresent in the book and central to its development, so Hektor seems like a great place to keep working on the text and imbue it with that presence.

Follow Jesús.

Discover Maarten Denaeyer’s in situ works on Lanzarote here.

The abstract graphic works of Maarten De Naeyer (born 1992 in Leuven, lives and works in Leuven, Belgium) are the result of a constant experimentation with shapes and textures. After obtaining his masters degree in Graphic Design in 2015, Maarten developed his own unique way of working by experimenting in his studio.

Purified form tension through geometric and organic shapes that interact in an environment of varying textures are the common thread throughout the work. Another very characteristic fact is the almost exclusive use of black and white, this in turn preserving the purity of shapes and allowing the negative white space to enter into a dialogue with the composition.

Asesinato en la colina

This series of sculptures in natural, unbaked clay, study how this material will persist in Lanzarote’s often brutal weather conditions wind, sunshine - and some rare rain. On almost every level of our land a fierce warrior has been put, ready to take on the battle with nature. Some are already beheaded, some are standing strong. When planning a visit, you might want to look out for them.

Truls also added some works to the permanent collection.

Truls Mårtensson (b, 1993) works with ceramics to transform the societal consumer culture in to his pieces, where his references to historical pop-art does not go unnoticed. The critique of a digitalized and capitalistic society in relation to his medium creates a unavoidable clash between worlds. 

For his project at Hektor Truls will explore the possibilities of marrying his own aesthetic with that of the specific location of the residency. He wants to see how he can progress in a new context - maybe with a material he is familiar with, clay, or other mediums. Furthermore he simply wants inspiration and stay at a place has not seen before. His practice has been very fast paced and urban centered and he wants to see what happens to it when you try to do the opposite in a more calm atmosphere. Moreover he intends to write and lay out future projects when at Hektor.

bontridders is playful electronics, the extravert coupled with the introvert, and that one Fergie cover. For some time bontridders was a more straight-forward indie-group, but now bontridders has taken on a more self-contained form. bontridders is Sam, also known from drumcomputerpunk band Brorlab.

bontridders will create a concept EP, infused with field recordings of the area of Lanzarote

Exhibition of Beginnings by Mark Rammers at Hektor.

Opening: Sunday April 23, 2023, 4 PM (on invitation only)

Visits on request, please complete the form on this page.

www.markrammers.com

All over again

Some estimates say that we reach the point of no return for our environment by 2035. Meanwhile, global superpowers are looking to bring the first humans to Mars, which could sustain human life and therefore is ready for colonization, according to experts. So instead of curing this planet we go to the next and do it all over again. And who are 'we' anyway? There are over 8 billion people on earth, and the majority never comes close to traveling to another country, let alone planet. Only those who can either afford it or prove they are of indispensable value may get a chance to go. I pose the question to the 'lucky ones': You now have the opportunity to do it all over again, will you do anything different?

This question has been on my mind for years. I feel a deep sense of regret for a number of choices I've made in life, some of which I cannot undo or alter. Even if I would escape to a distant planet, these feelings wouldn't just disappear, but follow me like a second shadow.

On Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, large volcanoes line the horizon, their surface a blend of reds, browns and blacks. Saharan dust is transported across the Atlantic on the warm winds known as calima. I came to Lanzarote because it looks like Mars and to start coming to terms with the decisions I made in my past. All over again examines the crossroads of our physical world and the one we inhabit in our minds, and what it means when we enter the future before dealing with our past.

Beginnings

Beginnings marks our arrival on a new planet. Quivering, we take a step into a world unknown. We've made preparations, but everything remains uncertain. There is no way back, we can only go forward. Simultaneously these images represent my first attempts in unfolding where my deep rooted sense of regret comes from. My journey is charged with obscure thoughts and clouded memories. But every small discovery provides a bit of understanding and carries in it a little hope for progress.

I, perhaps naively, imagined I would find many answers in one month on the island. It turns out, I found only one: Answers come by asking the right questions, and each answer is a phase in the process, a chapter on its own. Beginnings is the first chapter in a series that will follow the process of comprehending the origins of my regrets. At the same time the work aims to unravel the ethical dilemmas of starting somewhere new when we already fail miserably in taking care of what we have. The images in this chapter will all be hand printed in the darkroom, to emphasize how things slowly reveal themselves when you embrace the process.

© Mark Rammers