DISTANT SUFFERING XXXVIII
i.d. of a shared white kite
“If I die / you must live / to tell my story … let it bring hope / let it be a tale.”
Refaat Al-Areer
Three kites made from newspapers with articles about the genocide in Gaza and war crimes in the West Bank form a kind of protective canopy. The tails are made with 106 names of murdered journalists in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon between 07/10/2024 - 14/09/2025.
To be heard is the poem by Refaat Al-Areer (1979 - 2023)
If I must die in Dutch, German, Arabic and English* . Refaat Alareer was a Palestinian writer, poet, professor, and activist from the Gaza Strip. He taught literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza. Refaat co-founded the organization We Are Not Numbers, which matched experienced authors with young writers in Gaza, and promoted the power of storytelling as a means of Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation.
On 6 December 2023, at 6 P.M. Alareer was deliberately targeted by a surgically Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.
*Click here for the audio of the poem.
Locations:
Nieuwe Kerk | Middelburg
Supporting an exhibition with artworks of Gazan artists
Grote Kerk | Driebergen
Supporting the ambassadors' meeting of Tent of Nations
National Theatre ’t Spui | Den haag
Supporting Movies Tha Matter
DISTANT SUFFERING LVI | i.d. of shared betrayal
Click here for an animated studio presentation
photos from the studio
stills from the video
video, courtesy by ©Myuz Ahmed, July 27, 2025, Gaza Strip, edited to black and white with scratch filter
paper collages
1999 – 2012
In 2023, all of my paper collages joined Geert Verbeke’s renowned collection of collages and assemblages.
A selection is on display from November 19, 2023 until April 29, 2024 at the Verbeke Foudation, Westakker 1 in Kemzeke in Belgium in the section Collagemuseum.
Photos courtesy of ©2023 Giel Louws
Acknowledgement
A long-term project like DISTANT SUFFERING is impossible to work out on your own. Apart from all the people living in my library, I also want to thank the people who made the execution and exhibitions possible: Willy van Houtum, Giel Louws, Dani Ploeger, Jorieke Rottier, Peter Steutel, Loek Overvliet, Ingrid Rollema, Robbert Jan Swiers, Rinus Roepman, Jan
VerhaegheBE, Chris GreenwoodGB, Suzanne Groothuis, Alina AchenbachLB/DE, Ruben & Anne HordijkBRD, leon riekwell, Loek
Grootjans, Hendrik Driessen, Harmen Eijsenga († 2017), jen en Frie GosséBE, Maarten van ’t Hof, Johan de Koning, Leni van den Berge, Ramon de Nennie († 2024), Manuel ZoiaIT , Fred van den Berge († 2017), Martina ButtiglieriIT , Fiek Smitskamp, Frank ÅsnesNO , Rolf van der Mije, Ko de Jonge, Luuk Vulders, Niek
Hendriks, Mehreen HashmiPK, Klio KrajewskaGB , Stef Fridael,
Moham-med Al jawariGaza, Jacob JühlDK , Klaartje Esch, Roman
RejholdCZ, Kees de Valk († 2019), Riet van Gerven, Kate
ŠtroblováCZ, Yvette LardinoisNO , Sasha Rose RichterDK, Christine Veraart, Virginie Gmelich Meijlingt van Dooren, Lukáš JasanskýCZ , Julia Fidder, Jan Gmelich Meijlingt († 2021), Pamela GrombacherDK , Frie J. JacobsBE , Hans Bommeljé, Jochem Weststrate, Jan-Willem van Rijnberk, Pim Steinman, Sylvia Hubrouck, Hans EnemanBE , Kris van der Hart, Cecilie BerntsDK , Huibert-Jan Vader, Hynek ŠnajdarCZ , Masoud ShahsavariSE , Rikard FåhraeusSE , Laetitia DeschampsSE, Jannike BrantåsSE ,
Roel van der LindenNL/CZ , Alice MáselníkováSE , Rana AnaniLB , Jörn BurmesterDK , Sebastian Bern-burgLB, Wilfried Agricola de CologneBRD, Yarina ButkowskaUA , Olga & Oleg KharchenkoUA , Ivan Van de CappelleBE, David DelifioraUSA , Dina MattarGaza ,
Raed IssaGaza , Robin Weijers, Harriët Rademakers, Weijers, piet
Raed IssaGaza , Robin Weijers, Harriët Rademakers, Ormira
LulaniAL , Geert VerbekeBE , Beste GürsuTR, Helidon HalitiAL, Galid
Al Kholani Al FakeehYEM , Zake PrelvukajKOS , Jürgen O. OlbrichBRD (NO-INSTITUTE), André Smits, Tineke Schuur-mansBE , Marie VerbovenBE , Adam RoussopoulosUSA, Jatun RisbaRS , Franco G. LiveraRS , Issam Al Kholani Al Fakeeh, Bo de Jong, Zeus Hoenderop, Iris Van ’t Bos, Geeske Pluijmers, Tineke Smit, Ulrike E.W. ScholderBRD, Dirk D. KnickhoffBRD, Elisabeth SchinkBRD, Ruggero MaggiITÁRG , Emillio MorandiIT, GordanaSP , Silvio De GraciaBR , Bo de Jong, Sait ToprakTR , Lutz AndersBRD , Luiz Sacilotto&Marcia RosenbergerBR , Chris Kors, Anne-Lyke van den Elshout, Fé Wielemakers, Floor Zegers, Arjelien van Dijke, Hein Verwer, Cor de Lange, Willy van Meegen, Marlize Laport, Bo de Jong, Roula KaraferiGreece , Kees-Pieter, and the numerous par-ticipants in the poster project I.D. OF INEQUALITY.
exhibitions / art-related activities | selection
2026
plan-d, art initiative in DüsseldorfGermany, spring
Bloom Gallery, ValenciaSpain , spring. In coperation with ruimteCAESUUR
2024 – 2025
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation (November 17, 2024 – April 2025)
oeuvre retrospective | curator Marie Verboven
VeniceItaly | Visione Altre Galleria (February 1 – February 16)
Art direction: Adolfina de Stefani | Antonello Mantovani
Den Haag | Nationaal Theater aan ’t Spui | during Movies That Matter
Fé Wielemaker ( Match 21 - March 29)
Goes | Grote of Maria Magdalenakerk / Stone&Glass - IT’S IN IT
curator Willy van Megen ( July 8 - August 17 )
Terneuzen | Toonbeeld | Imagination Route 2025
curator Arjelien van Dijke ( July 5 – September 13 )
2024 – 2025 | continuation
Filmfestival ‘Film by the sea’ | i.d. of an artist’ portrait (12 – 21 September)
LarissaGreece | Open Nights Festival
curator Roula Karaferi ( October 9 – October 19, 2025 )
2024
Middelburg | Roofprintpers | Leporello (November 29, 2024 – January 1, 2025)
curator Leni van den Berge
A selection of my paper collages 1999 – 2012, is published in BALLUSTRADA, idiosyncratic literary magazine since 1986, volume 38 no.1/2, spring 2024
curator Ko de Jonge
İzmirTurkey | Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi (May 15 – 21, 2024)
curator Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi
Burgh-Haamstede | Bewaerschole | MIGRATION (August 24 – September 22)
curator Geeske Pluijmers
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation | winter exhibition | exhibition collages
curator Marie Verboven
Municipality of Middelburg | Makers Scheme:
Hallways, a study / images of corridors and halls in private homes and (semi-) government buildings in Middelburg.
Vlissingen | ik geef je mijn raam – I give you my window presentation project Sylvia Hubrouck in conjuction with the film festival Film by the Sea a selection of poetic videos - LOOKING THROUGH THE EYE OF W. #1,
2023
ChaskaU.S.A. | THE ARTISTAMP REVUE | Curator Adam Roussopoulos
StockholmSweden | Slipvillan | Curator team Studio44
Dishoek - Bunker WWII | curator leon riekwell
2023 | continuation
KemzekeBelgium | Verbeke Foundation | all paper collages 1999 -2012 are included in the collection of collages and assemblages by Geert and Carla Verbeke-Lens
selection shown at the winter exhibition collages ’23-‘24 | curator Marie Verboven
AarhusDenmark | Juxtapose Art Fair | Curated by Cecilie Bernts, Pamela Grombacher, Sasha Rose Richter and Jacob Juhl
Middelburg | ruimteCAESUUR with Gallery Durden and Ray | Curated by Jorieke Rottier
StockholmSweden | Längholmen | KEEP ON BREATHING | Curator Masoud Shahsavari
Los AngelesU.S.A. | with ruimteCAESUUR at Gallery Durden and Ray | Curated by Carlos Beltran Arechiga
Middelburg | Smith Art | Curated by Johan de Koning
KleveGermany | kunstverein bahnhof24
2022
LahorePakistan | In the glare of grey moon | Ranrez art gallery | Curator Mehreen Hashmi
BruggesBelgium | Expect an Occasional Attack … and Flee | CultuurCentrum Brugge | Curator Jan Verhaeghe
Geelong Australia | KART | David Delifiora
PragueCzech Republic | LIPA art collection
Peace letters to Ukrain #2Germany [ no. 38 – video i.d. of a shared bullet ]
BeirutLebanon | Kite project as part of the exhibition Salute to the Prisoners of Freedom
Art Exhibition at Institute for Palestinian Studies
Curator Sebastian BernburgU.K., Arts Coordinator London
StockholmSweden | presenting teamCAESUUR with Giel Louws and i.d. of a shared bullet
Supermarket Independent Art Fair | curator Alice Máselníková, Creative Director
StockholmSweden | part of the summer exhibition in Slipvillan | Curator team Studio44
Česká SkaliceCzech Republic | Luxfer Open Space | part of the presentation of the Lípa Art Collection
Curator/collector Roel van der Linden
TiranaAlbania | part of the (first) Tirana Biennial of Graphic Arts - first edition | Art Gallery of Tirana
curators Beste GürsuTurkey, Helidon HalitiAlbania, Zake PrelvukajKosovo
2021
Česká SkaliceCzech Republic | Luxfer Open Space | residency
AarhusDenmark | Juxtapose Art Fair | Curator Sasha Rose Richter
2020
Zeeland | Art Magazine decreet | Also in the public space of Middelburg
MilanItaly | MEN OF (street art) | Independent Artists | Curator Martina Buttiglieri
Tilburg | Steal like an Artist! | Kunstpodium ‘T’
Curated by Lost Painters | Niek Hendrix
2019
KarachiPakistan | Kabutar 1 | Curator Mehreen Hashmi
Milantaly | Kabutar 2 | Manuel Zoia Gallery
Watermans Arts CentreEngland | London | exhibition D.R.H.A.
Curator Klio Krajewska
2018
Willem Twee art space | Den Bosch | DISTORTION |
Curator Loek Grootjans
2014 - 2017
Middelburg | Abby Complex | Iconoclastic Fury | 2017
Amersfoort | Biënnale Foreign Guests | 2016
Gouda | Art Gouda | het Weeshuis | 2016
SYMPOSION | Gorinchem | 2015
Mon Capitaine - Middelburg | 2015 | solo
AntwerpBelgium | (WOOT) | solo | 2015
Vlissingen | Willem3 / Goes | W45 kunstruimte | 2014
1999 – 2014
Le Secet | 2014
CBK Rotterdam | 2013
Veere | SPRING | Grote Kerk Veere | 2012
Kunstuitleen Terneuzen | 2011 | solo
Stadsgehoorzaal Middelburg, Foyer | 2009 | solo
Sanders Geluk: PROJECT ARTIST-IN-CARAVAN | Kunstsuper Rotterdam | 2007
1/1 ALMOST GENUINE | CBK Zeeland Summer Studio | Middelburg | 2006 | duo
Jan van Leeuwen Stichting | Middelburg | 2005 | solo
[LOGO! NO LOGO?] | BrughesBelgium | 2003
VERDER TERUG | Trechter 5, Goes | 2002
Koetshuis van de Groep Planning, BruggeBelgium | Brughes Cultural Capital Europe | 2002 | solo
RAAMWERK | OostendeBelgium | 2001
ENGAGÉ! - West-VlaanderenBelgium, Zeeland, Nord-Pas de CalaisFrance | 2000
Galerij Germinahof | Sterksel | 2000 | duo
Presentatieruimte De Overslag | Eindhoven | 1999 | solo
Financial support
Mondrian Fund
SBKM / Vleeshal Middelburg
Frits Lensvelt Stichting
KulturrådetSweden
Region StockholmSweden
Awards, residencies, commissions and public collections
Winner Global Arts Award 2020 from Red Line Art Works, a UK-based global arts project, category art series
Sea foundation | Tilburg | [ residence ] September – October 2018 / Mondrian Fund
Work in private collections, Independent ArtistsItaly , Ramírez Art GalleryPakistan, LIPACzech Republic , VeniceItaly | Visione Altre Galleria, Karpuchina GalleryCzech Republic , The Institute for Palestine StudiesLebanon | Palestine | London | Washington
Verbeke Foundation, KemzekeBelgium
Public spaces in Axel and Neeltje Jans
Art-related activities Hans Overvliet as part of his art praxis
2015 - 2021 Co-initiator of Association Art House Zeeland, platform for artists
2012 - Co-creator / co-curator Kunstpark Vlissingen / Landscape Art Park Vlissingen
2009 - 2019 Chairman Foundation Studio Complex KipVis
2009 - 2014 Chairman Foundation decreet / concrete, Art magazine decreet
2005 - 2012 Chairman PLUS MIN Foundation, Renesse, succeeded by IK Foundation, Vlissingen
1995 - Founder, curator and co-director of Art Space ruimteCAESUUR
1995 - Curator / art educational projects / advising governmental institutions on art
hans overvliet
studio address | Dreesstraat 2, Vlissingen
+31 6 282 77 052 www.hansovervliet.com curiositas@zeelandnet.nl
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Hans Overvliet | DISTANT SUFFERING
Since 2013, by means of the ongoing art-series DISTANT SUFFERING, the Dutch artist Hans Overvliet investigates the role of the media in their representation of (military) violence. This, in the context of themes as perception, memory and identity formation. Overvliet uses a various range of media, symbols and codes, bringing together dichotomies like beauty and violence, refinement and brutality, the sublime and the vulgar.
As a reporter, Overvliet was an eyewitness to the events in the Middle East during the 1980s. Of course these experiences resonate in DISTANT SUFFERING. So aspects of power, politics, exclusion, censorship and the connection between artist, artwork and viewer infiltrate his multifaceted conceptual oeuvre.
Martha Jager, curator Vleeshal in Middelburg about the oeuvre: The dedication to art as a relational verb is central to Overvliet's work. On the one hand, the balance between poetry and criticism is special, so that the work never becomes bitter or pedantic, while at the same time the dialogue with the viewer is actively maintained. It is a tender form of activism that moves and urges action and also continuously questions the role of art.
Elements of distant suffering were exhibited in the Netherlands, Belgium, Pakistan, England, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Albania, Germany, Lebanon, the U.S.A., Brasil, Argentina and Sweden.
In 2023, his whole body of paper collages ( 1999 – 2012 ) joined Geert Verbeke’s renowned collection of collages and assemblages.
In 2024 - 2025 the whole oeuvre of DISTANT SUFFERING was exhibited in the museum part of the Verbeke Foundation. All the work will then be included in the permanent collection.
Hans Overvliet was born in Leiden in 1952; he lives in Middelburg and works in Vlissingen, both in the province of Zeeland in the South-West of the Netherlands.
Next to his art-work he is, together with his wife Willy van Houtum, the founder and every day guardian of the 29-year old space for contemporary art: ruimteCAESUUR.
Here you’ll find his extended portfolio.
