JOURNAL

What happens when we stop looking away from death — and begin to sit with it instead? In this curatorial essay, readers are invited into the conceptual world of VIGIL, a three-part exhibition exploring death, decay, and the afterlife. Moving from corporeal breakdown to mythic liminality and finally into speculative post-human futures, the text reflects on how we ritualise loss, how we witness endings, and how death might be reimagined not as disappearance, but as transformation.

In this feature, artist Menno Pasveer reflects on his approach to photography, his fascination with everyday gestures, and how staying close to what’s ordinary can be an act of resistance. From small rituals to visual stillness, Pasveer’s work offers a quiet counterpoint to the fast pace of contemporary life.

Is gore still rebellious — or has it become a shortcut? In this opinion piece from Curator Doron Beuns, the recent wave of blood, flesh and fragmented bodies in contemporary art is put under the microscope. We share it here as a prompt for reflection: on shock value, symbolism, and how far an image can (or should) go to be seen.

We're always looking to collaborate with passionate artists and curators. From exhibitions and workshops to experimental projects, Semester9 offers opportunities to bring your vision to life while connecting with a network of like-minded creatives.