Dear Readers,
Last year I wrote a letter giving you a little insight into my life. Then I had been a graduate for six months, and now about a year and a half. A lot has changed. Funny enough, one of the biggest changes comes back in a way I didn't expect. The way I introduce myself.
I no longer say, "I'm Renske Tiemersma I just graduated from art school and I do art." Instead I say, "Renske Tiemersma, artist."
I think it's already obvious, the biggest difference is self-assurance. Last year I wrote, "And yet I feel like I'm falling behind. That I haven't done enough." and "...I find it hard to hear that 'the art world is just the way it is.' and that you can't become a real artist if you don't give 200%..." and "I hope it's not true, because I have no intention of destroying myself to become a real artist."
The biggest difference is self-assurance
I read into my words the fear of not finding my place in the art world, the uncertainty that, for me, goes one-to-one with obscurity, and the reluctance to think of myself as a professional artist. Fortunately, a lot of that has changed. I have been incredibly fortunate that my first major commission went incredibly well. In March 2025, I did a residency at Mediamatic in Amsterdam, under the new direction of Marcel Sturing and project director and curator Laura Sanz Rosal.
I worked very hard for that, put up something really cool, but I also made mistakes in my estimation of time and went beyond my limits. I learned a lot from that, and I was given the space to learn without getting the feeling that they saw me as inferior. That did me a lot of good.
I have a side job. Not a difficult job, not even very varied, interesting or inspiring. But that's what makes it nice
Since then I've done a number of small projects, and now I'm doing an artistic research residency at HKU, which is also going very nicely. But there is something else that has helped me in finding the balance as an artist.
I have a side job. That doesn't sound very exciting, and it isn't. I currently work two days a week as a cleaner at a home care company. It's not a difficult job; it's not even very varied, interesting or inspiring. But that's what makes it nice. It's a kind of benchmark in my week. A rhythm to build the rest of my life around and a piece of financial security that takes away a lot of stress.
I also agreed with myself that I don't have to do any other art stuff on those two days. No e-mail, no this or that or just a quick pick-me-up, and sometimes that gives me more peace of mind than a day off. Now in all honesty I will say that on a Monday night - a side job day - I am finishing this letter. Well, balance remains to be found, but I'm doing my best.
And I would like to conclude with that. Finding the balance. Between my art practice, my private life and all the gray areas in between. Balance between my ambitions and dreams, the harsh financial realities of life. Balance in the space for spontaneity, finding inspiration in the craziest places and being able to step away from my work, give my head a rest.
I'd love to hear how you deal with this. Is there a ritual, appointment, rule or maybe something completely different that helps you in maintaining peace and inspiration?
Love, Renske
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