EVA BARTELS
theater maker · storytelling hoarder
ambiguous heliotrope
She lives in an old monumental falling-apart castle-ish treehouse-sort-of building in Amsterdam. An old ballet studio is her sanctuary. She loves to organise secret surrealistic dinner parties.
"The creative process to me is vulgar and holy at the same time. I have to be hit by it. Like bird shit. But in this case, it's not a bad thing to be hit by at all."
She is multiple people in one body. Maybe even some animals too. Sometimes these characters become friends, partners in crime, even lovers. Other times they are just disagreeing — and boy can that suck time and energy.
Eva Bartels is a painter, actress, theater maker, and — in her own words — an ambiguous heliotrope. She lives in Amsterdam in an old monumental falling-apart castle-ish treehouse-sort-of building, where an old ballet studio serves as her sanctuary.
Her practice ranges from oil painting to theater to VR film. She made a VR piece called Eva and Many Others — a Gestalt therapy-inspired work where she separated her identity into six archetypes and staged a group discussion about the reasons for existence. Her current solo theater piece is about the life and work of Leonora Carrington for Art Amsterdam. Next: Irma Stern, part of an ongoing series about fascinating female artists.
She is also inspired by Mother Nature, whom she finds more seductive than any human. And birds. One day she hopes to become one.
"I don't necessarily believe that I am in charge of inspiration and creation. I'm always grateful to canalize it though."
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
I am inspired by the multiple layers our identity exists of and how these layers and characters interact with one another. The polarity within, the partnership within, the war and co-creation within.
I also love the sensuality and bold strength of the female body. I am fascinated by nature most of all. Mother Nature surprises and seduces me more than any human ever did. Okay — some people do come close to her mind-blowing trickster skills and dazzling beauty. I love birds too. One day I hope to become one.
Tell us about your creative process and what you're looking forward to this year.
The creative process to me is vulgar and holy at the same time. I have to be hit by it. Like bird shit. But in this case it's not a bad thing to be hit by at all — you don't have to go home and put on a clean jacket because it's good luck. I don't necessarily believe that I am in charge of inspiration and creation. I'm always grateful to canalize it though.
I am working on my solo theater piece about the life and work of Leonora Carrington for Art Amsterdam. When I was in Cape Town I started researching Irma Stern, who I am going to make my next piece about. They are both part of a series about fascinating female artists.
How has this year changed your creativity or how you see the world?
This year made me realise how privileged I am. I am healthy, I am resilient, I'm inventive, and surrounded by loving people who share their love for life with me. I've spent lots of time in the ocean and on bare feet. I fell in love many many times this year — with people, animals, and mountains.
Who do you consider to be an icon of our time?
MICHAELA COEL — this woman is everything. She is a vivid example of a multitalented woman with endless willpower. She can and will do it all. She is a great example for me that you don't have to choose one skill or one path. She is a whole universe to me. On many levels I admire her.
Do you think the art world needs to change?
Eva Bartels well.
"Wellbeing for me is having the freedom and bravery to figure out what makes me well and practice this as much as possible. I experience periods of unwell-being and it helps me to write down all the things that make me feel whole so I can read it when I feel lost."
She shared her list with us. We are honoured.
"Being well is for me realising that if I would die right now, I had the blessing of a ridiculously awesome life which I was able to share on top of that. Being able to share, I guess, is proof of wellbeing to me."
Discover more artists chosen for their ideas, not their visibility.
Antakly Projects is an independent platform dedicated to artists, musicians, photographers, designers, and thinkers at every stage. Every interview is selected for depth, not reach.
"Being able to share, I guess, is proof of wellbeing to me."
More personal essays and cultural commentary from Leila Antakly — on art, life, and the world we're paying attention to.
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