black velvet, cotton yarn, polyester yarn, collected used buttons, wooden hanging system
The work 'Ter Apel' by Joyce Overheul is a tapestry embroidered from donated, used buttons. The image shows a refugee camp, which at first glance is reminiscent of the camps in Greece, Turkey and Calais. However, it turns out to be Ter Apel in the apparently well-organized Netherlands. The cloth is embroidered with buttons donated to this project by more than 130 people. Each knot represents humans as a unique individual, a stark contrast to how certain groups of refugees are systematically demonized. The work is a criticism on the Dutch government that makes a distinction between different refugees, while they are all just as entitled to help.
Overheul studied Fine Art at the HKU in Utrecht, followed by a master's degree in Artistic Research at the maHKU. Her work has been exhibited at home and abroad and she also makes work on commission, with the highlights being the solo exhibition Let's Get Political at Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle and the realization of the war memorial for resistance woman Truus van Lier for the Municipality of Utrecht. In 2023-2024 she has her second solo museum presentation at Museum W in Weert.