A documentation of the participatory project inspired by calligraphic batik initiated by the artists Ada Van Hoorebeke, Maartje Fliervoet and the manoeuvre platform.
Fake Calligraphy is a mobile sculpture consisting of a simple set of metal frames, batik, and tools that are used in repeated collective performances. The sculpture serves as a workshop where patterns based on pseudo-writing are collectively produced. The publication documents a joint making process along with some of the techniques that are applied here, such as dyeing with natural dyes and wax batik. Fake Calligraphy is an ongoing work made by many participants, developed and facilitated by Ada Van Hoorebeke, Maartje Fliervoet, and the artistic platform manoeuvre. Amongst other places Fake Calligraphy was performed and shown at WIELS Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels, Kunsthal Gent, (Ghent) and at homes and studio's of contributors in Ghent, Serekunda, Brussels, The Netherlands, and Berlin.
Born 1982 in Belgium, Ada Van Hoorebeke lives and works in Berlin. Her practice investigates and expands crafts related techniques such as ceramics, and textile batik that are based on natural dye. The artist developed a keen interest in early 20th centry textiles from the North coast of Java which combine european fairy tale characters and flowers with indochinese and arabic patterns, objects but also traces of the making process taking a sculptural dimension.
Maartje Fliervoet is a visual artist based in Amsterdam.
Edited by Ada Van Hoorbeke, Maartje Fliervoet, Katja Gretzinger, Chris Rotsaert.
Texts by Esma Moukhtar, Ada Van Hoorebeke, manoeuvre, Fake Calligraphy participants.
