Our Light

Our Light

the Bergen

One of Eindhoven’s oldest neighborhoods, de Bergen, naturally holds countless stories. From recent events involving new residents to memories of people who have lived in the area their entire lives, this district is rich in history. Our Light, a project by Machteld Aardse and Femke Kempkes, brings these stories to life, projecting them onto the façades of homes. As you walk by, you can see and read the images and words. In Our Light, you meet the residents who live and love behind the doors you pass every day.

Everything comes and goes; life is in constant motion. During GLOW, the residents, their stories, and their lives come together in a string of light art. These light images reflect the urban memory, symbolizing the essence of a place. What you witness is a cadence of memories.

Machteld and Femke worked closely with the community through a series of workshops. Residents brought cherished objects, photos, or copies to the sessions. Stories and memories surfaced, ranging from a train that once ran through the Kleine Berg to beautiful anecdotes. Machteld and Femke transformed these souvenirs into visual pieces, displayed one by one on 38 overhead projectors along Heilige Geeststraat and Prins Hendrikstraat.

Here within, I know it well

Here within, I am myself

– Merel Morre, from the collection Zie Binnenzijde 2024

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About the artists

Machteld Aardse & Femke Kempkes

Machteld Aardse and Femke Kempkes are always curious about the stories tied to a place. Who lived here before us, and which people give a place its soul? They seek to capture this narrative.

Femke Kempkes (1971, NL) is an artist who studied sculpture at the Amsterdam School of the Arts. She focuses on creating interaction, often collaborating with local residents and users of a space, resulting in large-scale community projects. In addition to her artistic work, she teaches spatial design and art history.

Machteld Aardse (1972, NL) is a multidisciplinary artist from Amsterdam. After studying Art History, she continued her education at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, earning her Master’s degree from the Dutch Art Institute. Her work begins with drawing and painting, expanding into media like animations, performances, and light projections. She is fascinated by the human experience, exploring both power and vulnerability in relation to the environment.

Photo: Coco Olakunle

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