Gijs Frieling, Ruigoordkerk

The church is the beating heart of Ruigoord. At the invitation of Ruigoord, Gijs Frieling painted the entire interior of the church, all the way up to the rafters. This eclectic mural depicts the ecosystem of Ruigoord—its history, sources of inspiration, and collaborations from around the world.

Before he began, Frieling spoke with the artists, founders, and others involved in Ruigoord. The result tells the story of the artist village—then and now. We see the places, beings, journeys, happenings, erudite and magical figures, and the movements connected to Ruigoord such as Provo, the Kabouters, the Insect Sect, and activist actions. In short, everything that has contributed to the identity and survival of Ruigoord over the years. Kingdom Ruigoord is a tribute to Ruigoord and everyone involved: its unique culture, community, and passionate spirit.

Together with various artists from within and beyond Ruigoord, assistants, and students from Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Gijs Frieling painted the church. Afterwards, Femmy Otten added eight niches with sculptures and reliefs.