The Dutch practice of social interaction
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, Zaandam, 2024
The Dutch practice of social interaction was realized in May 2024 with the support of The Dutch Foundation For Literature and the organization Vataga. At this stage of the project’s development, the artist focused on building communities and expanding the geographical scope of the practice beyond a single city—and, in this case, across the country. Workshops were held in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zaandam, and The Hague.
An important outcome of the practice lies not only in the collective upcycling of garments and the shared process of transforming trauma through material deconstruction, but also in the formation of new social connections that continue to exist beyond the workshop itself.
Teis
Rotterdam
My name is Teis, and I'm from Belgium, from a small village deep in the west of Flanders, near the seaside. I've been living in Rotterdam for seven years now with my Ukrainian girlfriend, Oksana.
I have a background in interaction design, although I recently shifted my career to something a bit more stable — I now work for the government. While it's still a creative job, it's quite different from the artistic work I used to do. Some people who know me are surprised when I tell them I work for the government now, but I enjoy it. It's steady, and once I'm done at 6 pm, I can completely disconnect, which wasn't always the case in the creative sector.
Today, I brought a few pieces of clothing that have personal significance to me.
The first is the oldest sweater in my closet. I bought it about 12 years ago from H&M when I was still a student. I used to wear it almost every day during the winter, but now I only wear it at home. It no longer fits my style, which is why I decided to bring it here and give it a second life.
Another piece is a brown cardigan with buttons in the front. I bought it a few years ago when I started teaching as part of my PhD program. Since I was only 25 at the time and teaching students not much younger than me, I bought this to make myself look a bit more mature. I never felt comfortable in it, though, so I stopped wearing it soon after.
I also brought two tote bags. One is from a project I worked on during my PhD, and the other is from Ukraine. 2022 was an incredibly difficult year for me, as I was finishing my PhD while also dealing with the emotional weight of the war. These bags symbolize the stress of that period, both personally and professionally.
Then there's a silk shirt that Oksana bought from a second-hand store. She liked the texture, but after washing, it wrinkles a lot, and I hate ironing. So, while it feels great to the touch, l've never actually worn it.
Another item is a T-shirt from a band I used to play in when I lived in Belgium. I played guitar in various bands back then, and it was a big part of my life. Now, l've recently started playing in a new band here in the Netherlands, but I keep this T-shirt as a reminder of those earlier days.
Lastly, I brought a beanie that belonged to Oksana. We bought it on our first trip together to Oslo. She doesn't wear it anymore, but for me, it holds a special memory from when we were just starting our relationship.
Each item carries its own story and meaning for me.
Zhenya
the Hague
My name is Yevhen Spizhovyi. I was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. In my professional life, I have always worked with letters, doing calligraphy, lettering, and type design. When the war broke out, life changed dramatically. My wife and I found ourselves in Georgia, where the war caught us during our vacation.
We did not expect events to unfold in such a way, so after the war started, we were forced to travel across Europe in search of a safe place. After Georgia, we lived in Germany for a year, and then I entered the master's program at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague, where I am currently studying type design.
What have I brought to my practice of social interaction? It is important for me to work with things that have a personal history and emotional connection to different stages of my life. Each object I brought for this project is connected to a certain period when I moved from place to place, leaving behind everything familiar and familiar. For example, the blue bag with the inscriptions is a gift from my friends in Kyiv, before the war. This object reminds me of a time of peace, when life was full of plans and dreams, and the war seemed like something impossible.
Another important element is the red bag with lettering, which reflects my professional activity, as I have always worked with letters. All these things symbolize different parts of my life, from Kyiv, where I was born and built my career, to Georgia, Germany, and now the Netherlands. For example, there is a scarf with the inscription "Practicum" that reminds me of the time when I was still teaching in Kyiv at the Prozhektor design school. It was a period when I was actively involved in teaching and creating a new generation of designers.
I can describe my style as a contrast between two different parts of my life. One side is dark, restrained colors, such as black and white, which symbolize difficulties and challenges, including the outbreak of war. The other side is bright and colorful things, such as the pink leopard pants I bought specifically to wear at home and enjoy the bright colors when everything seems gray. This contrast reflects my personal feelings: the dark and light strips of life, where the war has become the darkest page, but at the same time there is a desire to find bright moments in everything that happens.
A special place in my collection is occupied by things I bought in different countries during our forced relocation.
For example, in Germany I bought several items that became part of my everyday life when we lived there for a year. One of these things is a white T-shirt with the letters "F", given to me by my classmate Felix. For me, it symbolizes new acquain- tances and support from people I met outside of Ukraine. I also have a burgundy sweatshirt with the inscription "KBC" on it, which reminds me of the Academy where I am studying now, and this is another important part of my story.
My collection for the workshop is not just things. These are objects that have been with me through the most important and transformative moments of my life. They represent not only a material aspect, but also an emotional connection to the past, to what I went through to get to where I am today. I believe that even in the most difficult moments of life, you can find the bright side, and through these things I want to show that new opportunities can be found even in the darkest times.
Anastasia
the Hague
My name is Anastasia, and I created this project together with my husband Christian, who is from the Netherlands, and my sister Kira, who, like me, is from Ukraine. I have been living in the Netherlands for 12 years. I moved here just at the time when Kira was born, so there is a big age difference between us. Before the full-scale invasion started, Kira and our mother lived in Kyiv, and after the war started, they were forced to leave Ukraine and came to live with us in the Netherlands.
I went to university here in the Netherlands and work in the IT field. My move was initially related to my studies, so it was never clear how my life would turn out. I often returned to Ukraine to see my family, especially because Kira was very young when I left. Every time I went home, my luggage was always heavy - 23 kilograms, the maximum weight that could be taken on the plane. My suitcase was always full of clothes that my family and friends gave me, especially from my grandparents who lived through the Soviet era and never threw things away.
The clothes I chose for this project represent three generations of my family. For example, the two beige items in the center are my grandparents' clothes.
My grandmother's vest with sparkling stones always reminds me of her love for bright and festive style. It has a few stains on it, and I think it's from food - she must have worn it to some family dinner. My grandfather's vest, on the other hand, is very practical - it has pockets, and it fully reflects his approach to life: always prepared and ready to help.
I also included my mom's clothes, although our styles are very different, so I rarely borrow anything from her. However, there are a few sportswear items here that she used to go to the gym, and these things ended up in my wardrobe. Many of the pajamas that are part of this work were gifts from my mother and grandmother, because practical gifts in our family have always been valued more than books or picture frames.
One of the interesting items is a pair of jeans that belong to my "Dutch" life. They disappeared for two years from a friend who borrowed them after she fell off her bike and tore her own. They came back to me only after the pandemic ended. I also have a blue shirt with a pink pattern that my friend gave me for my birthday. This is another example of practical gifts that have always hit the mark.
And finally, there is a gray piece of fabric with a giraffe pattern. This is a T-shirt from a volunteer event in Amsterdam, where my colleagues and I took Dutch grandparents from a nursing home to the zoo. For me, these clothes symbolize a different time when volunteering had a completely different meaning - not helping the Ukrainian army, but just doing nice little things that made the day better for someone else.
These things are part of my family's history and my personal experience. Each item reminds me of a certain period of my life, associated with important moments and people with whom I shared these events.
Nina
the Hague
My name is Nina Faulhaber and originally I'm from Germany. I came to the Netherlands last August to do my Master's here at the KBK University, and I'm doing the Type and Media Master's course, which is one year of intense type design actually. So this is also probably a good start for my textiles.
So the first piece, which is the pink and white checkered one, I brought from home actually, because I felt that when I would be living here in a furnished apartment, I would need something to keep me connected to my home and to make it more cozy. So this tablecloth I brought to have something personal in this already furnished apartment.
I have pieces of a white t-shirt with some failed embroidery on it, that actually is part of the final project I'm doing in my Master's course, which is designing a typeface that actually has to do with textiles and fabric. So it is inspired by different characteristics of them. And I tried to embroider the design I'm doing on a jersey fabric, and it failed. But I thought it would be a nice addition to the textiles.
I have another piece of white fabric, which is an old t-shirt of my classmate. I thought it would also be nice to include it. And the other ones — I don't know about the owners and I never wore them — but these are men's shirts I bought also for my project, because I want to print and also embroider again my design on clothes and on fabric.
And I thought it would be nice to just recycle things. So all these shirts I bought for my project to use them for print or embroidery. And parts of them are now included in the fabric. I also kept smaller pieces so that the connection from this new piece to the older pieces I will reuse for my process again is there. I plan, after setting all the scraps together here, to do some prints on the new fabric with my design and then give it back to Yasia
Daria
Rotterdam
My name is Dasha, I'm an artist from Kyiv. A year and a half ago, I came to another country with my family. When you immigrate, the topic of belongings becomes especially painful. There are items that you have to leave behind forever, which is especially difficult when you have children. I have two sons, and some things, in particular textiles, remind them very much of our home in Ukraine.
These things hold fond memories. I decided to use them here in the project because they remind them of Ukraine and life at home. I also brought some fabrics that I used in my first exhibition here. These are also special things for me because they symbolize new beginnings and opportunities. I like to reinterpret old things and create something new, which helps me to relive the past and look forward to the future.
My son was very fond of the little shirt with the Mario print.
We brought it back from Ukraine. It's old and has holes in the sleeves, but I can't throw it away. It reminds us of home, and such things are especially important for children. It has become a symbol of memories and connection with the native country. I have similar feelings about the old pajamas I took with me when I moved. They are all torn, but I can't part with them.
The black piece of thick velvet is a material from my artistic practice, which I used in the installations at my tirst solo exhibition here. It was my first purchase of fabric here and it not only looked great, but also didn't let the light through, which created an interesting effect.
There's also my younger son's sweatshirt with an animal print. He loved it, but he has outgrown it. It's a bit worn, but I feel bad about throwing it away. This sweatshirt accompanied us during the move, so it holds symbolic value for us. It reminds us of the difficult adaptation period when the children missed home, friends, their grandmother, and Ukraine. For my younger son, this sweatshirt became a symbol of his love for Ukraine. He often draws flags and hearts, which shows just how strong his attachment to his native country is. He's outgrown this sweater, and perhaps it also symbolizes the transition to a new stage in life - when you leave something behind and move forward.
Sara + Ilona
Zaandam
Sara:
My name is Sarah, I'm 36, and l've always been passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I love learning languages, meeting people from different cultures, and l've worked with refugees since 2015, first as a volunteer and later coordinating activities to help people connect on a human level. I believe that bringing people together, beyond labels like "foreigner" or "refugee," helps build empathy and understanding.
In addition to my social work, I'm involved in environmental advocacy with the Green Left Party in the Netherlands.
Although I don't consider myself an expert in ecology, I believe that social and green progress should go hand in hand. Environmental sustainability shouldn't come at the expense of disadvantaged people, and I feel strongly about the intersection of social justice and ecological responsibility.
The items l've brought to this project each carry personal significance and reflect different stages of my life. For instance, the black and gray sports shirt belonged to my grandmother, who was a huge inspiration to me. She taught me to think independently and question systems. She was also a runner, even at 70, completing half marathons. When she passed away from cancer just before the pandemic, I kept some of her belongings, including this shirt. It represents her wisdom and strength, and I think she would have loved to be part of an art project like this.
Another item is a bee-patterned onesie that holds memories of a joyful vacation with friends I met while volunteering with Syrian refugees in 2015. We all wore these ridiculous costumes to the beach, and it was a moment that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I've kept it all these years as a reminder of the carefree and playful side of life, even during challenging times.
The light blue Old Navy sweatshirt is from a difficult period during my master's studies in New York. It reminds me of a time when I was realizing that the path I had chosen -work-ing in forensic science - was not where I belonged. That experience pushed me to rethink my future and ultimately led me to work with people instead of in a lab. The sweatshirt symbolizes that personal transformation and my journey from living with my head to living with my heart.
The simple black H&M shirt represents another turning point. I wore mostly black for years and avoided expressing myself through clothes. By cutting up this shirt, I'm symbolically saying goodbye to mass-produced fashion and embracing more sustainable, thoughtful choices in how I live and dress.
Lastly, the striped shirt is a memory of a special birthday celebration I had with Syrian refugees. It was a beautiful summer day, full of laughter, Arabic songs, and friendship, even in the face of the hardships they had just endured. It taught me that even in the most difficult circumstances, moments of joy and connection can bring healing. This shirt was a gift from my friends that day, and it holds the memory of that shared experience
Ilona:
My name is Ilona and I have been living abroad for 8 years.Initially, my husband and I moved to the Netherlands in 2016 and lived here for two years. I really enjoyed living in Amsterdam, but my husband suffered from depression because of his job, as he has ADHD and a childhood trauma. Although we both loved Amsterdam, it was hard to stay, so we moved to Dublin, where he got a job at Google.Unfortunately, life in Dublin did not meet our expectations.I felt that the culture there was not as frank as in the Nether-lands, where people speak directly, and this is important to me because it reduces stress. So after four years, we decided to move back to Amsterdam.Moving back to the Netherlands was not as easy as well. It was difficult to find an apartment, it added to the stress. Perhaps because of the war in Ukraine, this period was more difficult for me emotionally. Even though I am far away, the events in Ukraine still have a strong impact on me. I feel this connection at the national level, as if it is a common pain of all Ukrainians.
Now about the clothes. For example, this sweater was an impulse purchase, and I was very worried that I bought it thoughtlessly. And these socks never stayed in place, constantly slipping down, which annoyed me a lot. This cheap sweatshirt is from Ali Express. I was surprised that it turned out to be quite high quality, so I would like to pass it on to someone who will appreciate the style.A shiny top, probably from Mango or Zara. I wore it to my first IELTS exam in Dublin. It cost only 3 euros. I like the material, but it's not the best option for a blouse - the fabric is too tight and it's almost impossible to move in it. And my jeans just don't fit like they used to.
Sophia
Amsterdam
My name is Sophia Bulgakova, I am a media artist from Odesa who has been studying, living and working in the Netherlands since 2015.
So, about the stuff. This T-shirt was created by a student organization called Uzvar Collective. It's a group of girls from Ukraine who organized themselves from the first days of the full-scale invasion and started selling prints and various goods to raise funds to help Ukraine. Later, they started making clothes and made prints on T-shirts with the word "Volya" on them. This T-shirt is from that collection. But it so happened that I wore it on the first day of the exhibition installation, and it literally "died" during the work. That's why it's stained now, but it still has the word "Freedom" on it, which is important to me.
I got the purple dress through my Ukrainian friends. Actually, not only Ukrainian friends - we organize clothing swaps.
We meet and exchange things. I had a package from the last swap at home, and a few things from there ended up here. These are somebody's things that came to me. For example, this purple dress and I think this milk blouse.
The red dress is from my favorite vintage store, Two Sisters, in The Hague, where I used to live a long time ago. This store is run by two sisters. It is a place where I always went to look for beautiful dresses or something else special. I always found something interesting there. So one day I found this dress, but it had a stain or something else wrong with it, so it didn't fit anyone. In the end, I kept it. The shop owners just gave it to me. Maybe we can also have the lining altered to make it look even better.
Natalia + Gerard + Kateryna
Amsterdam
Natalia (front and sleeves):
My name is Nataliia, I’m from Kharkiv but been living in the Netherlands for a long time.
Black printed T-shirt is merch from the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre in the Netherlands. It was founded by a woman in 1971 and still operates today. The centre educates children about the importance of coexistence between humans and nature, and how to treat seals in a way that doesn’t harm them.
The beige cashmere sweater is from my mother.
The AC/DC T-shirt belonged to my husband. It was his favorite and he wore it for many years. I originally collected these kinds of T-shirts for a children’s project where we planned to cut them into yarn and weave rugs from them.
The orange hoodie I bought last year at a charity concert by TNMK. They organized an auction to raise money for medical kits. I’d love for this hoodie to stay in the project — it carries a meaningful connection.
Gerard (back):
When I turned 40, everyone in my family gave me socks as a present. A ridiculous amount — all with childish, playful prints. Now, I’m using them to create a kind of battlefield composition — a symbolic confrontation of good versus evil, like in Ukraine. There’s a deeper meaning in it for me: even the “good guy” might carry a gun, and the “bad guy” wears striped pajamas, a nod to prison uniforms. It’s about transformation, and seeing how light contains shadows, and darkness can also carry traces of light. I’ve added the word “lucky” at the bottom of the work — as a small gesture of hope.
As for the T-shirt with the tiger print — it never felt right to me. The tiger’s face was placed awkwardly on the front, and the whole thing felt off. I didn’t want to wear it, but I also couldn’t throw it away — it was a gift, though I no longer remember from whom.
Mrs. Kateryna is an internally displaced person from Ukraine.
Unfortunately, she did not bring any of her own belongings, but she actively participated in the workshop and helped everyone.
THE WORKSHOP PROCESS
