Object voor Opa was a private work created by artist Sijben Rosa for their grandfather W.C.Reij, who was always close to them and played a significant role in their creative development and artistic journey. During the last few years of his life, he slowly lost his linguistic and other cognitive abilities due to small tia’s. When he could barely speak any longer, Covid-19 robbed them of the only way of communication they had left: touch. That’s when Sijben decided to make an art experience that was tailored to his specific condition; one that was to be experienced somewhat through sight, but predominantly through touch. Its shape was informed by memories of how he used to do with Sijben’s hands, on ways of touching and holding on that he seemed to enjoy.

The short video accompanying this work captures his first encounter with the object: his hands discovering and rediscovering the object, as he looks at Sijben, then back at the object, and discovers it again. For the last two months of his life, he rarely let go of it. The version shown in this exhibition is a replica. While the original object remains with the artist as a deeply personal and emotional keepsake, the copy invites others to imagine a memory held not in images or words, but in the palm of one’s hand.

In loving memory of Willem Cornelis Reij, 4 November 1923 – 3 September 2020