Christine Meijer

My strength lies in my curiosity. I am constantly seeking new stories, sources of inspiration, and connections. I love exploring how we—as human beings—feel, express ourselves, and interact with one another. I translate these insights into creative work across the various mediums I practice. I create theater and music, write poetry, enjoy photography, love to tinker and craft, and have a passion for movement. With a fondness for site-specific theater and engaging all the senses, I aim to inspire others to keep looking for the magic in the world.

What inspires me
I am a great lover of life’s beautiful things. Not just the first "I love you" or earning a diploma, but also the blossoms, fluffy clouds, and everyone sitting on picnic blankets in the park on a warm day. Not to mention someone’s freckles, popping candy, and the scent of a cinnamon candle. People inspire me with who they are, and I hope I can do the same for them.

What is my ambition or vision for the future?
To keep things modest for now, I primarily hope to continue creating art in a way I enjoy and that inspires others. I also hope to share my love for people and life’s beautiful things as well as my eye for detail with the young people I have the privilege of teaching.

What can you expect at the finals?
A theatrical concert featuring documentary-style video footage. It is an immersive experience where the audience joins the crowd as fans at a concert by the girl group Complex Girlz—three girls with a dream, killer choreography, and catchy original pop songs, each grappling with her own personal "complex."

In addition to my research on (self-)censorship and art as resistance, I am exploring the concept of the tormented artist for my final performance project. I consider the glorification of creating art out of pain and torment to be highly dangerous. I hope to discover a healthy approach to making art—both for myself and to share with others as an artist and educator.

I am conducting research into censorship and artists who engaged in resistance during World War II, and whether a link can be found to self-censorship today. I am carrying out this research as part of my residency at Zwolse Theaters for the *Theater na de Dam* project, where I am creating a solo musical performance titled ‘Slaapkamerkunstenaar’ (Bedroom Artist).

Internships:
I am currently completing an internship at De Muiterij Jongerentheater in Zwolle, working as an assistant director for the 16+ group and as a social media content creator.

Additionally, earlier this academic year, I directed a production with the young members of the Herman Heijermans theatre group in Olst.