Suzie van Staaveren

Het compromis

2019

Het compromis

I made money killing trees
I spent money wishing trees
I made money selling wishes
I made honey in the trees
I made money from the honey
My sincere apologies

Van Staaveren’s role is that of a medi-
ator. She creates uncontrollable condi-
tions in which she has to compromise
with what’s in front of her. She medi-
ates between materials, tools, audienc-
es and people. As a mediator she tried
to establish a compromise between a
tree and a beam. This process resulted
in sculptures she made in collabora-
tion with an arborist. Trees from the
premises of Schloss Kalkhorst were
the starting point. Since the core of the
tree is still inside the sculptures, the
wood continues to work, causing them
to slowly change shape. This renders
these sculptures perpetually unfinished:
the dialogue between the tree and the
beam continues. ‘How do I
handle material?