Project SOUL SPACE

Socrates called it his Daimonion: a hidden travel guide who protected him on his journey through life by preventing him from doing something he was about to do. Socrates always listened very carefully to the guide, because, according to him, this voice came from the Deity. Is Socrates' Daimonion comparable to what we name as God or Guardian Angel? Or does it look more like something the (para)psychologists call a 'mental radar': a function of the human subconsciousness? Could the travel guide be just another word for 'fate'? In any case, it seems to be something invisible and hidden but nevertheless active outside or inside ourselves; mysterious and possibly supernatural as some sort of intensified knowledge. Whatever the hidden travel advisor might be, in all cases our powers of imagination

play a crucial role. The first part of project Soul Space investigates in what ways the Daimonion manifests itself as `religious experience' during all kinds of services and ceremonies present to this very day in Amsterdam, worshipping each in their own manner what they think most important. What does religious experience mean for the churchgoers? What do they hope for? Which voices do they hear? Or do they merely opt for the coffee after service? These questions are addressed by focussing on the profound feelings during the service when the intimacy of the moment evokes a special atmosphere in which 'something might happen'. The aim is to capture something so invisible on camera and subsequently turn it into a sign of our evolutionary potential.

Participants Pauline van Es, Renee Hartog, religious communities: Apostolic Society, Buddhist He Hua Temple, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, J.G. Plate Spiritist Society, Family Federation, Hare Krishna Ikscon, Liberal Jewish Congregation, Oranjekerk Protestant Church, Old Catholic Church, Old Church Congregation, Oudezijds100 Community, Pastoral Care for Drugaddicts, Quakers, St. Nicholas' Basilica, Shinzen Foundation, Vaidiek Arya Samaj.

Artists' book SOUL SPACE A poetic photo book about the ways in which God is manifest as a hidden travel advisor. Challenging the existing religious communities, Soul Space announces the birth of the eMigrant - an electronic Deity that will alter our world in an unprecedented manner. Soul Space is supported by the AFK Amsterdam Fund for the Arts: 'The AFK are convinced of the substantive artistic quality. A project brimming with originality and eloquence.'

Concept and production: Tine Wilde Dimensions: 210 x 280mm / 8.3 x 11in Specifications: hardcover embossed. Inside work 72 pages full colour with 16 pictureworks in double-page spreads, 16 spot varnished b/w photos, poetic text in colour, English. Lithographer: Willem de Heer Printer: NPN Drukkers, Breda Binder: Boekbinderij van Mierlo B.V Publisher: Wilde Oceans Publications ISBN: 978-90-804240-5-0 Publishing date: November 2019 See also: soulspace2019

Picture page SOUL SPACE A separate picture page gives you an impression of the development and production of the publication, as well as the photographic results of the Soul Space presentation at Perdu. You can find a short video-trailer on the 'media' page of this website.

17.11 2019

Book presentation Soul Space and debate with participating religious communities, Perdu Amsterdam.

13.10 2019

De Daimonion van Socrates. Lecture (Dutch only) on religious experience and artistic processes. Filosofiecafe Twente, Kulturhus Borne.

7.11 2017

Socrates' Daimonion, on religious experience and artistic processes [Dutch only] Presentation and exhibition of photo-series Soul Space. Leiden University.

15.8 2016 - 1.7 2017

The production of a series of pictures, taken during the service or ceremony of various religious institutions in Amsterdam, listed above in alphabetical order.