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Surrender to Life

June 28 to October on Schothorst Estate

Art that grows, flourishes and disappears again

Nothing stays the same. Nor do the artworks of Surrender to Life. On Landgoed Schothorst you will discover six artworks that change during the exhibition under the influence of weather, time and nature. They grow, decay, shift and slowly become part of their surroundings.

The works are made of natural materials and explore the continuous cycle of life, growth, decay and renewal. As in nature, nothing stands still. What is visible today may have changed tomorrow. They show that impermanence is not something to fight against, but something to be curious about.

Walk the paths, look carefully and come back later.

 

Not just looking, but also participating

📍 Location: Landgoed Schothorst, Amersfoort
📅 Period: from June 28 to October 2026
🌿 Route: along the walking paths on the estate
🎟️ Access: freely accessible during park opening hours

At Surrender to Life, you are more than a visitor. You can not only view the artworks, but also participate in activities and experience the creative process up close. You can include:

  • follow along with walks;
  • Meeting artists at workshops in nature;
  • see how works of art grow, change or disappear;
  • create small temporary works of nature art themselves;
  • Contribute with stories, materials or ideas;
  • collaborate on a joint drawing on how mycelium works together.
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The artworks - Discover how they’re growing, thriving, and changing

  • Mowing - Esther Hoogendijk

    What if mowing becomes an art form? Using natural mowing patterns, Esther Hoogendijk draws temporary shapes in the grass of Schothorst Estate. This creates a landscape full of rhythm, movement and surprising perspectives.

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    Mowing - Esther Hoogendijk

  • Out of earshot - Jeroen Diepenmaat

    With a portable sound module (to be picked up at het Groene Huis) you listen to a poetic composition that blends with the sounds of the park. Along the way, you will hear an imagination of what is going on underground and below the surface of the water.

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  • Where time makes form - Krijnie Beyen

    Spiral objects made of mycelium grow with their environment. Time, material and natural conditions together determine how the work develops. Until mid-July, the mycelium grows in and around het Groene Huis. After that, it hangs in the trees.

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  • Nesteldrift - Rosalie Smit

    Near the old lime tree, a large nest rises as a place for encounters, performances and small handmade nests. The work explores our need for security, care and connection with others.

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  • Volte van de holte - Theo van Delft

    Transparent forms of wire appear between trees and near tree cavities. The material, derived from visitors' clothing and textiles, connects human traces to the landscape and makes our presence visible.

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  • You and me and time - Marieke Ploeg

    Life-size figures of unfired clay temporarily appear among the trees. Under the influence of weather and time, they slowly return to earth, water and roots and become part of nature again.

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Growing agenda

Surrender to Life is alive and well. That's why there's all kinds of things to do during the exhibition. Walk along, meet artists, roll up your own sleeves or come back to see how the artworks have changed.


Check out the acitivities:

Meet the creators

  • Esther Hoogendijk

    Esther Hoogendijk creates living sculptures and installations that change under the influence of time, nature, and human action. Using materials such as paper, plaster, ink, and seeds, she explores growth, decay, and transformation.

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  • Jeroen Diepenmaat

    In his work, Jeroen Diepenmaat explores the relationship between image and sound. Through installations, sculptures, and performances, he makes the listening experience visible and regularly involves the audience in the artwork.

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  • Theo van Delft

    Movement and natural elements such as fire, water, and light are central to Theo van Delft’s work. Through a combination of sculpture, film, and photography, he creates poetic images that are constantly changing.

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  • Krijnie Beyen

    In her work, Krijnie Beyen explores the relationship between people, nature, and consciousness. She sees art as a means of making visible what often goes unnoticed.

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  • Marieke Ploeg

    Marieke Ploeg creates clay sculptures in which she explores the relationship between matter and the spiritual. In her work, the creative process is just as important as the final artwork.

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  • Rosalie Smit

    With *The Botanical Brothel*, Rosalie Smit explores how people can reconnect with the living world around them. Her work straddles the boundaries of art, ritual, and social interaction.

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Living archive - Share your experience

This is where the Living Archive is growing.

Not a traditional catalog full of completed artworks, but a document that moves with you. For four months the six works are followed in nature, with all that goes with it: growth, decay, encounters and transformations.

Are you a visitor, participant or participant? Be sure to share your photos, experiences and thoughts. That way the archive grows with everyone who contributes to it.

  • More culture

    More culture

    Discover Amersfoort's artistic offerings: museums, galleries and creative projects.

  • Discover textiles in Amersfoort

    Discover textiles in Amersfoort

    Follow the thread and see how Amersfoort's textile history unfolds.

  • Lunch break

    Lunch break

    All that wandering and wondering will make you hungry. Settle down for a nice lunch break or sumptuous dinner.