Slideprojection on wallpainting, 1998
( wallpainting, 4 slideprojectors, each of them with 81 slides)
poet Madeleine de Scudéry, designed a topography of love, the so called 'Carte du tendre' ('Map of Tenderness'), which she added to letters for three of her lovers. But her map lacks directions, interpretation and orienteering features. One doesn't know how to get from the possible point of departure 'Nouvelle amitié' (New Friendship) to the destination, which might be one of the Cities of Tenderness. On the other hand this imaginary Map of Tenderness is as fictitious, or as real, as any of the maps to which we are accustomed.
Four locations from the Map of Tenderness have been selected and according to their position on the map they were painted in for different directions on the gallery walls. In the South we find the 'New Friendship', in the East the 'Lake of Indifference', on the opposite the rock of 'Pride' and in the North the 'Unknown Countries', as well as the three cities upon die rivers of Inclination, Esteem and Recognizance.
Textquotes are projected in the gaps between the topographic elements. The descriptions and directions flashing up in an irregular rhythm are taken from scientific geographic literature and guiding books of the 20th century.
Sometimes a red point appears somewhere: Vous êtes ici. You are here.
'Carte du tendre', in: Clélie. Une histoire romaine. Madeleine de Scudéry, 1660, Bd.2
> shown at
