Announcement of artists for the 2025 year program ‘Whispers of Resistance, A Year of Softness’

with Yin Yin Wong, Caleb Witvoet, Finn Anton Maätita, Ribka M. Pattinama Coleman & Jerrold Eliano Saija, Skye Maule-O’Brien & Mirjam Linschooten, and Leonie Brandner.

Hotel Maria Kapel (HMK) is proud to present the selected artists for the 2025 program Whispers of Resistance, A Year of Softness. In a time when crises and polarization are driving us further apart, HMK opts for a counter-movement: a year where softness takes center stage as a way to examine societal urgencies. The program builds on previous residencies, where themes such as slowing down, translation, and healing were explored. This year, HMK focuses on how softness can be a powerful tool in times of tension.

The artists of 2025 will each contribute to this softness through their unique perspectives and practices. Yin Yin Wong investigates the unheard stories of the (South) East Asian diaspora in the Netherlands, departing from personal experiences and the portrayal of this community. Caleb Witvoet explores the creative rebellion of graffiti and skateboarding as forms of civil disobedience in a large installation that draws parallels between the chapel's arches and the curves of a skate ramp. Finn Anton Maätita, Ribka M. Pattinama Coleman & Jerrold Eliano Saija continue their collaboration, exploring their shared connections to the Moluccan land and voices in the diaspora. Skye Maule-O’Brien & Mirjam Linschooten focus on the capitalization of wind in the Caribbean and how this colonial legacy still exerts influence today. Finally, Leonie Brandner delves into origin stories within mythological narratives and translates them into an installation that will fill the chapel.

In 2025, HMK will offer a space where softness becomes a tool to soften the harsh edges of our time. We look forward to welcoming and supporting the chosen artists as they work on their projects in our beloved chapel.