Joya: AiR / Thera Hillenaar / NED

The World in the Stillness

Nothing is moving. Not like before.

Back in the city, movement is survival—the rush of cars, the swarm of people, the hum of voices layered over each other like an unending song. But in Sierra Maria, the world has folded itself into quiet.

At first, the silence feels empty, the stillness unnatural—like something is missing. But slowly, I begin to see it: the life hidden in the silence, the world in the stillness.

Above me, the sky is endless blue, so open it almost swallows me whole. Clouds drift by, slow and steady, unbothered by time. They move the way I wish I could—without hurry, without expectation. The earth itself seems to breathe in slow, steady rhythms.

Nothing is moving. And yet, everything is.

In February 2025, I lived and worked at Joya: AiR, immersed in this rhythm of stillness. Free from the daily distractions of the city, I found a different kind of movement—the quiet, steady pulse of creativity. Working with my hands, sculpting textiles, and resonating with nature, embracing the unhurried flow of time allowed me to create with a new sense of presence. I am so grateful for this experience.

A heartfelt thank you to @StichtingNiemeijerfonds and @StichtingGerbrandyCultuurfonds for the financial support, and to Donna and Simon Beckmann for creating this off-grid residency. Thank you to everyone who shared this journey with me: @kasiagatkowska @lorrmar @imo.sinclair @silent_everything @joya @lcyptrs @Mona_casey.

The results of this working period will be on show @ ThisArtFair, from June 5–8, at @Open_open_space, Amsterdam, NL.

I hope to see you there!

@Thera_hillenaar