In Cause and Effect, artist Noa Zuidervaart engages with geomantic practice as a means to explore intuition, chance and alternative modes of future-thinking. This practice, an ancient form of divination, interprets the earth’s energies through patterns formed by casting objects such as stones, sand or shells. Zuidervaart employs drawings, sculptures, wall paintings and an installation to investigate how the foundational principles of geomancy can inform the artistic process and provide a sense of grounding in unpredictable times.
Zuidervaart approaches his work from a desire to comprehend the unexplained or inexplicable, exploring the manifold ways in which humanity has ascribed meaning to such phenomena throughout history. He employs a broad range of media, including drawings, sculptures and found objects, which he typically activates through installations. His work draws from a multitude of sources, ranging from mythological motifs and animism to protoscience and comics. By weaving these influences together, Zuidervaart challenges linear modes of thinking and creates space for more intuitive and non-conventional forms of knowledge.
The exhibition Cause and Effect originates from his residency at Billytown in The Hague, which took place from September to December 2024, and is supported by the Mondriaan Fund and Cultuurfonds.
