An essay on perception, art as transformation, and the encounter between creator, audience, and artwork outside traditional frameworks
by Annemijn Rijk / Body of Art
When I introduce myself as a creator, it usually goes like this: “My name is Annemijn Rijk, I’m an artist and philosopher, and I create my work in the Grey Space; the space between the black box of theater and the white cube of museums.” I then continue my explanation with more information about my latest production and the fact that I was once—in the distant past—a dancer. Although it only serves as an introduction to my introductions, the space in which I create and share my work is a fundamental part of my practice. In this essay, I delve deeper into the relatively unknown space that is essential to me in communicating my vision and mission: The Grey Space.
The road to Grey Space begins with a detour and a bit of theory. So, buckle up.
To discover what Grey Space is, we must first consider what it isn’t. This brings us to two well-known art spaces: the aforementioned black box of theater and the white cube of museums, between which Grey Space (as the name suggests) seems to exist. (Spoiler: I consider Grey Space a separate space, a “third space,” with its own raison d’être. Grey Space doesn’t exist because there happened to be any space between the white and the black, but more on that later.)