Weten is niet aan de orde, Jij hebt toch geen uitleg nodig? Ik kan licht zijn omdat ik zie Ik kan voelen met mijn ogen dicht en open Wie ik ben hoef ik niet op te blazen, Niet te verstoppen, niet uit te leggen Mijn intuïtie rent als een paard Waarbij iedere stap versnelt Of verbeeld ik me dat maar? Pas als het eerlijk voelt, doe ik wat Wanneer de stilte klopt Tot die tijd: ik wacht niet.

I travel all over the Netherlands, but I don’t see a crisis with refugees. What I do see is a shortage of workers in nearly every sector. We need people. Besides, the number of refugees arriving is already decreasing. And let’s not forget: we often share responsibility for the very conditions they’re fleeing. The real challenge isn’t about who comes here—it’s about how we keep this country moving forward. Strangers become a lot less strange once you know them. And today, with the internet in your pocket, there’s no excuse not to. The hysteria around turning people into enemies is beyond stupid. We’ve lived in a globalized world for decades—pretending we can return to some mythically pure, homogeneous society is a joke. Who are we fooling? After 25 years of political grandstanding—mostly under right-wing governments—one thing is clear: populism doesn’t solve anything. It just hits pause.

Yesterday, I listened to Marijn Kruk on BNR's Big Five discussing populism. What struck me was how he makes a genuine effort to take those who think differently seriously and to understand why they think the way they do. It’s rare to encounter someone who truly makes that effort. Kruk said something that stayed with me: "Identity and identity politics belong to the right, especially to populists. You’ll never win that battle." I see it differently. Identity, above all, belongs to the artist. Politicians cherry-pick elements from art to fuel their propaganda, but identity is much more than a political tool. It is a deeply human phenomenon that belongs to all of us, and we should not shy away from exploring and reshaping it. Kruk also said that you need to tell your own story, a different story. That’s essential, and that story can also represent a new identity. This is where my work comes in. Identities are constantly shifting, whether in fashion or culture. Those who look deeper will see that identity isn’t merely a surface issue—it’s powerful because it has so many layers. Through my art, I explore the possibility of a new culture. A culture born from fiction, yet firmly rooted in contemporary reality. To truly understand that reality, one must be willing to understand those who think differently. That is where the challenge lies. My prediction? The art world is on the verge of embracing psychology and anthropology. Only by gaining a deeper understanding of human nature can we elevate art and culture to a higher level.

This morning, I watched a debate featuring Douglas Murray (link: https://youtu.be/y0_JtKOZbKo?si=3jZOQyFbrb9Je1ru). More than once, Murray has left me feeling disgusted—not out of spite, but because his remarks often seem to revel in the suffering of others, particularly when discussing sensitive issues like the victims in Gaza. It's disturbing to watch someone appear to take pleasure in saying the most horrible things. I do admire his intelligence and knowledge of global conflicts. However, when someone combines eloquence, intelligence, and what comes across as sadism, it becomes unsettling. To better understand the world, I always try to see the "other" perspective. I’m not a black-and-white thinker, though sometimes I wish I could be. That’s why it’s hard for me to label someone as purely evil. I’m currently watching the Netflix documentary *"Hitler and the Nazis,"* where you see Hitler’s close associates during the Nuremberg trials. It’s difficult to comprehend how someone can be so pathologically evil—just as it’s hard for me to believe Hamas committed the atrocities on October 7th last year. But when I see Murray, who is respected by people I respect, like Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris, I feel a physical sense of disgust. How can a clinical psychologist like Peterson not address Murray’s inappropriate comments? I had to turn off the debate because my hands were shaking with shock, and later I found myself snapping at my son because I was still angry. I know I’m sensitive, but this was extreme, even for me. That’s why I’m writing this. I strongly support freedom of speech. In debates, however, I often see insults used as a tactic when someone lacks substance or debating skills. With limited time to make a point, saying something shocking forces the opponent to respond before they can present their argument. Murray is particularly skilled at this, delivering cutting insults that make him appear strong. We humans gravitate toward strong leaders, but harshness often seems to win out over compassion in the short term. It’s easier to mock someone than to explain why they’re valuable, or to label Palestinians as terrorists than to discuss the complex issues of Israeli settlements and decades of Palestinian suffering. Good and bad people exist everywhere, including in Israel and Palestine. It’s much easier to talk about good and bad people than to address the complexities of good and bad behavior. I’m very reluctant to label someone as evil; their actions have to be consistently and egregiously wrong. A wise person would use a debate to help the world move forward. That’s certainly not what Murray does. He silences anyone who disagrees with him by calling them anti-Semitic. By his definition, I would be labeled as such, and that is far from how I see myself. Quite the opposite.

I couldn’t be interested in borders because of my condition: I suffer from curiosity and understanding that we all share this planet. Mine, mine, mine= I wanna win, win, win or I’m afraid, afraid, afraid doesn’t stick to me. I suffer from curiosity and I’m loving it.

We have lost control of our sense of reality and very soon also of technology.

I would love to do a collab with the one responsible for the idea and execution of this video by M.I.A. https://youtu.be/3Yuqxl284cg?si=j1Aqw8E1BcCJB9eC(https://youtu.be/3Yuqxl284cg?si=j1Aqw8E1BcCJB9eC)

Here is a list of people of whom I think the sum of their insights and wisdoms bring a way forward for stalled discussions. Think of racism, gender, information overkill, personal development and so on. Sam Harris Jordan Peterson M.I.A. Gabor Maté Susan Sontag Dave Chapelle Kate Shinha (Kirac) Ricky Gervais Dave and Shannon Powers (OPS) Steven Fry Lidewij Edelkoort Jerry Saltz Esther Perel Jon Stewart Sarah Silverman

There is something about a still image. I think the concept of freezing a moment in time relaxes us, cause we ourselves can not freeze time. Looking at something that moves slowly (waves in the ocean) or something still, calms us. If we look at something worthwhile it is even more intriguing, isn't it?

Rick Rubin Zoom in and obsess, zoom out and observe

https://youtu.be/-6DftQveCJo