Jesse Darling's 'Godsworth' Transforms Amsterdam's Oude Kerk
Jesse Darling's exhibition 'Godsworth' at the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam runs until September 27, 2026. The British artist, a trans man, uses everyday and discarded materials—like a blue tarpaulin arranged as a Marian mantle, fairy lights, and a repurposed dressoir—to critique the Catholic Church's historical marginalization of LGBTQ+ people. The installation transforms the medieval church into a liminal, unfinished space, with rainbow-colored window films projecting LGBTQ+ symbols onto the floor. Darling's approach is described as 'arte povera,' rejecting commercial art world values. The exhibition includes multiple interventions across the church, creating a nuanced dialogue about power, queerness, and institutional critique.
Key facts
- Jesse Darling's 'Godsworth' is on view at the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam until September 27, 2026.
- The exhibition uses discarded materials like a blue tarpaulin, fairy lights, and a repurposed dressoir.
- Rainbow-colored window films project LGBTQ+ symbols onto the church floor.
- Darling is a trans man who critiques the Catholic Church's historical marginalization of queer people.
- The installation transforms the church into a liminal, unfinished space.
- Darling's work is described as 'arte povera,' using 'poor' materials.
- The exhibition includes multiple interventions across the church.
- The article was written by Maurits de Bruijn.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Oude Kerk Amsterdam
- Mister Motley
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands