Artist in Residence at AnnAtopiA
When I arrived at AnnAtopiA, my first thought was: “How wonderfully peaceful it is here. This is the perfect place to focus on my work without distractions.” The forest offered an abundance of inspiration. I also read some of the works of writer Sonja Prins, and the thought of her sitting here so dedicated to her craft was deeply inspiring.
My days began with light yoga and chi kung exercises, followed by breakfast. Then I would head to the forest house/studio. Since I stayed during the winter, I first lit the wood stove before starting my laptop. Luckily, I had brought a reliable power station, which kept my laptop running for several days. I alternated between working, tending the fire, and taking walks in the forest whenever I needed a break from the digital world.
During my residency, I worked on Below the Underground, an interactive audiovisual project. It tells the story of demons trapped beneath the underworld. The player’s task is to free them and restore them to their original state. These stories are drawn from personal experiences, with the demons symbolizing unresolved traumas.
Normally, I get distracted by many things, but in this place it was almost impossible. My focus remained almost entirely on the project. I stayed for two months—longer than the usual two to three weeks—partly because I was also teaching two days a week at Avans University of Applied Sciences.
In 2023, I had already worked on this project with three interns, but at the time I lost focus because I was mainly micromanaging instead of keeping sight of the bigger picture. This time I approached things differently: I concentrated entirely on the storytelling and allowed the interaction, style, and other elements to emerge more organically. I began by stripping my old setup down to its essence. I knew I wanted to create a meditative, hypnotic atmosphere. As both an artist and a body-oriented therapist and hypnotherapist, I wanted to connect the player with the unconscious through subtle suggestions within the game.
I chose a story from my past and recorded it as audio, which felt especially fitting in this serene environment. I then supported the audio with visuals and placed them into the game world. In this first prototype, the player walks through a misty landscape, moving from fragment to fragment as the story slowly unfolds, until they finally meet the demon. There, a dialogue begins in which the truth is revealed. Recording the story brought emotions to the surface again, but it also felt like a liberating process of confronting my own demons.
The trees and artworks scattered through the forest brought me peace and helped me step out of the automatic mode of constant doing. This gave me the space to reflect deeply on my project. By letting go of the sense of “having to,” so much more could emerge. Every time I went outside, I heard different birds, which kept me both curious and calm. I also worked on a small puzzle to sharpen my focus and often went for walks. Once, I even brought my meal along and ate while walking in the woods. The sun shone gently, the air was cold, but the warmth of the food, the trees, and the silence brought me completely back to myself in that moment.
My experience as Artist in Residence at AnnAtopiA was truly inspiring. The natural surroundings and the authentic studio allowed me to fully immerse myself in my work. Communication with Eric and Wilco was clear and pleasant, and Claudette’s feedback at the beginning and end of my stay was invaluable. I also benefitted greatly from the exchange with Timo Kock—we gave each other feedback on our work, which was very enriching.
All in all, this residency was a unique and meaningful experience, filled with inspiration and personal growth. I would highly recommend it to other artists seeking peace, nature, and the space to dive deeply into their work.
With gratitude to Eric van Vliet, Wilco Timmermans, Claudette van de Rakt, Nina Kramer, Timo Kock, and Robin Taarling.
Nick van ’t End was a guest at AnnAtopiA AiR from December 1, 2024, to February 1, 2025 | https://demonstergames.com | www.healingcoach.nu