Book presentation Marieke Zwart She saw, I saw
Home-based maternity care and obstetrics are part of the cultural heritage. For two years, Marieke Zwart followed healthcare professionals with camera and pencil in their work in Amsterdam Zuidoost. The result of this drawing research is the publication She saw, I saw, which will be presented at CBK Zuidoost on Friday, December 19 from 5-7 PM.
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Home-based maternity care and obstetrics are part of the Dutch cultural heritage. Yet, this form of maternity care is under pressure due to budget cuts and staff shortages. This publication shows how indispensable the work of two healthcare professionals in Amsterdam Zuidoost is. From 2023 to 2025, artist Marieke Zwart accompanied them on home visits, where she captured intimate care acts in small rooms with pencil and camera. In her studio, she translated these into large drawings and collages. A number of these drawings were already on display in the AIR in Zuidoost exhibition in 2024.
Invisible
Zwart has consciously exposed the entire drawing and work process: all drawings, sketches, documentation material, photos, and texts from the past two years are visible to the reader. This reveals what otherwise remains invisible. In addition, the book contains essays by Lynn Berger (De Correspondent) and Menno Dudok van Heel (head of the Amsterdam UMC art collection), as well as two transcribed conversations: one about care in the Bijlmermeer with midwife Willemijn Speelman and maternity professional Joyce Aboagye, and one about the dynamics of working inside and outside the artist’s studio with artist Dineke Blom.
Presentation
At the book presentation, Mirthe Berendsen will act as moderator. Present will be Joyce Aboagye from Joy Kraamzorg, Willemijn Speelman from midwifery practice Bijlmermeer, and Menno Dudok van Heel (Amsterdam UMC art collection). 
Program:
5:00-5:30 PM – Walk-in
5:30-6:30 PM – Conversation
6:30-7:00 PM – Drinks
About the artist
Marieke Zwart (1987) lives and works in Amsterdam. Observing is an important theme in her socially realistic work. Zwart studied visual arts at the Rietveld Academie, completed a master’s in artistic research at the KABK, and was a resident at the Rijksakademie (2017–2018). In 2022, she published Professional Amateur with the Amsterdam artist collective depend on me. She is represented by galerie m.simons in Amsterdam.
The book is designed by Lotte Lara Schröder and published by n.k.g publications. It was created with the support of the AFK, Mondriaan Fonds, Niemeijer Fonds, and CBK Zuidoost.
