ROOTED

'n Argitektuur van Verbintenis

True sanctuary is rarely a place it is a state of being witnessedROOTEDexists to challenge the boundaries of where we feel "at home." It is a visual manifesto asserting that identity, whether queer, cultural, or religious, is not a static point on a map, but a living, breathing root system. This work was created to dismantle the "us vs. them" narrative, replacing it with a stark, beautiful reality: that our shared vulnerabilities are the only soil in which true peace can grow.

The Narrative: Common Ground in the Dunes

In the desolate expanse of the Dutch dunes, two worlds converge under the boughs of a Scots pine. Arjan Spannenburg utilises high-contrast monochrome to strip away the distractions of colour, leaving only the raw geometry of an encounter.

Die boom, met sy blootgestelde en verweerde wortels, dien as 'n spieël vir die figure. Dit staan stewig in verskuiwende sand, net soos die menslike gees grond moet vind in veranderende sosiale landskappe. Deur die figuur in tradisionele Midde-Oosterse kleredrag, wat 'n wêreld simboliseer wat dikwels nie ten volle verstaan word nie, en die kwesbare protagonis saam te bring, skep Spannenburg 'n 'Gemeenskaplike Grond'. Dit is 'n ruimte waar die trauma van diskriminasie, wat diep gevoel word deur beide die LGBTQ+ en Moslem-gemeenskappe, erken word en dan deur nabyheid getransformeer word.

The Artifact: Resilience in Monochrome

ROOTEDis a 80 x 120 cm fine art statement on resilience. The viewer is met with a profound silence. The dark, structured fabric of the garments acts as a protective shell against the pale, infinite horizon of the dunes.

For the international art collector, this piece offers more than aesthetic beauty, it offers a dialogue. It is a sophisticated exploration of multicultural integration and the psychological search for safety. It speaks to the curator who values art as a bridge, a way to find the "Common Ground" that exists beyond the borders of our differences.