A duo exhibition with Geer Pouls 2.

On opening day, Geer Pouls gave this speech:

All right, so no flowers go in.

Apollo and Dionysos were at opposite ends on a Thursday evening with a bottle of wine in between them

Diametrically opposed!

This was going to be really hard and after several glasses of wine – a second bottle was opened – it was decided to continue the meeting on Friday.

Friday: there is not much time left. It is already four o ‘clock, the last chance to order flowers. Decisions need to be made right now. I want inside the vase. ‘No!’ says Marlies, ‘these are not vases but objects.’

I protest, because this is not what we agreed upon. I was already surprised by the sizes, and even more so by the covering. In fact, my thunder has been stolen. What can I do when a vase maker starts using my material, ivy, as covering.

First concession, I only want to use two of the three vases. ‘No,’ says Marlies, ‘one. ‘No,’ I say. ‘two.’

My own collection of small vases starts playing through my head. The idea of filling a vase with small vases pops up again, perhaps in combination with plastic flowers.

Why all of this? I continue to search within the bounds of reality, living my life to the full, dealing with everyday things, and displaying the denied. Mankind is not as beautiful as it likes to think it is. Culture only bothers nature. Mankind's attitude towards nature is banal at best. Manipulation, abuse and destruction are hidden by beautiful images. My world has always been neat and tidy, but only very thinly so. So never again. ‘No,’ says Marlies, ‘it just has to be fun, Geer, come on, it is in your fingers. You can do this or you can do that.’ ‘No,’ I say, ‘I will dress that vase, it says so on the invitation.’ ‘Yes, but you can also do this or that.’ ‘No, no, and no again!’

It is Friday, a quarter to seven, I hope I have found the solution. It is too late to order flowers now, so I’ll go to the Haagsemarkt tomorrow. The flower man opens at 8:00 AM and his stall will certainly reflect the tastes of our present day. Certainly on the Haagsemarkt.

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