Exploring the Cosmos of Creativity: NVR’s Journey at the Goodmesh Concours 2023

In the heart of Amsterdam’s cultural epicenter, the Netherlands Space Society (NVR) embarked on a cosmic journey alongside the artistic brilliance of the Goodmesh Concours 2023. This unique multidisciplinary art competition aims to shatter conventions, inviting participants to merge music with various art forms. This year all orbiting around the ethereal theme of the Full Moon. 

The NVR, committed to the spirit of space exploration, organised a special treat for 25 members and guests to witness the celestial spectacle at Het Concertgebouw on November 27, 2023. Together we immersed ourselves into the performances of five outstanding groups, gracing the stage of the Kleine Zaal in front of a captivated audience of 420 people.

Exclusive Backstage Access

Before the show even began, NVR attendees had the extraordinary opportunity to delve deeper into the artistic cosmos as they enjoyed exclusive backstage access. Meeting the performers before the show allowed them to connect with the creative minds behind the celestial performances. 

One main question resonated through the room: ‘Did they create new performances after becoming aware of this year’s competition theme of the Full Moon? Or have they been craving to bring a long-dreamt lunar performance onto the stage”? This year’s winner revealed that the idea for her group’s performance was indeed inspired by the given theme – even though she has always shared a strong connection to the Moon, giving her strength and confidence. 

The Performances 

What came next was an unforgettable hour of Art Performances, ranging from Live Electronic Music and Live Visual Coding, Saxophone with interpretative Dance, Epic Ballades and Poetry, Harp Performance with Spoken Word and Visuals, to organ music accompanied by a theatre of objects. All of these had been inspired by the theme of the full moon, be that through its cyclical life-giving nature, its influence on nature as well as human behaviour & perception, historical symbolism, mystical stories and exploration of time. 

Casting the Votes

This full hour of intense music and art left our members inspired and enthusiastic to participate in the vote for the audience prize, while the jury members withdrew to decide the winners. And so did the NVR jury, consisting of three of our attending board members: Kim Regnery (Events), Coen Martinus (Treasurer), and Alexandra Sokolowski (Communication). 

Discussing and deciding who could be worthy of the special NVR prize, was not the only sophisticated challenge our jury faced in the 30 minutes, during which the decision had to be made. The special NVR prize that was about to be given to the winner consisted of a heavy, professional telescope, which still had to be assembled before the prize ceremony. We are happy to report that our jury managed to complete both tasks in record time! And the effort was very much worth it, judging by the gasps and sighs of awe coming from the audience when we brought it onto the stage for the ceremony. 

The Winners

We don’t know if the sequence was planned, however it became clear that the NVR would voice its award first when the telescope was brought onto stage. It was probably the most unexpected prize of the night, and even created slight confusion among the performers, not knowing whether we were just bringing the item onstage for show. When we heard the quiet question “Is this the prize…?” and our prize giver replied with a confident “Yes”, the excitement was at its high. 

The NVR special prize, the breathtaking telescope, went to Inge Louisa, for her performance of “The Fairy Ring”. Our jury was impressed with her orchestration of the interdisciplinary performance of harp, spoken word, and visual art, all while directing string quintet. She impressively combined the moon’s symbolism in mystical fairy stories with a sensory experience. Our jury found her and her group’s performance outstandingly consistent while offering the opportunity for a moment of reflection: For centuries humans have associated the moon with having magical effects on nature. One such supposed influence is the so-called fairy rings: mushrooms growing in a circle. In older times they were claimed to have been created by fairies dancing in the full moon’s light; in today’s times the subject has inspired a number of scientific papers on whether mushrooms really grow better in the moonlight. 

The winners of the main categories were

1st prize (5.000 EUR)
Smackgirls – Saxophone and Dance, performed by Lisa Schreiber and Kanoko Takeuchi

2nd prize (3.000 EUR) and Audience prize (1.000 EUR)
Delle Cose, “Incanto” – Live Electronic Music with Visual Live Coding and Performance (2nd Prize, Audience Prize)

Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy prize from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) – providing a performance opportunity to show the art piece again at the University of Amsterdam
Olloman Ensemble, “An Endless Hour” – Song, Spoken Word, Video

For full details of each performance, go to https://www.goodmesh.nl/ to find out more. 

The Goodmesh Concours 2023 was a celestial celebration of artistic innovation, where music and diverse art forms converged under the cosmic theme of the Full Moon. NVR’s members added a touch of astronomical flavour to this already stellar event. As the lights went out to close off the event, it was evident that the cosmos of creativity knows no bounds, leaving us all inspired to explore new frontiers in both art and space.

About Goodmesh

Goodmesh is an Artistic Agency based in The Hague. Since 2020, it organises the International Multidisciplinary Art Competition, the Goodmesh Concours. Each year falls under a different theme. Previous editions inspired artists from all over the world with themes like “Body Respect”, “Expectation versus Reality”, and “Fish”.