This event is free but ticketed. Event time and ticketing details will be announced soon.
Following the screening, the artist will present an artist talk and Q&A session.
Join Norway-based artist, Simone Hooyman, for screenings of her short films,The Perpetual Tapestry, Beneath the Surface Touch the Sky, and Chapel of very small Creations. The Perpetual Tapestry is a multichannel animation presenting a contemporary vision of the apocalypse. The work portrays cycles of decay and reconstruction that shape human history through a colorful animated fantasy of a living tapestry. The tapestry is constantly woven, unraveled, and repaired by the bees, symbolizing humanity, time, history, and our shared attempt to understand the cycles that define our existence. The project draws inspiration from the medieval Apocalypse Tapestry at Château d’Angers in France, a monumental 14th-century tapestry depicting scenes from the Book of Revelation. The Perpetual Tapestry reflects how apocalyptic imagery reappears in times of crisis.
Beneath the Surface Touch the Sky searches for the soul of the fjords from the deepest hidden places to the highest mountaintop, exploring layers in the fjord regions of Western Norway. Chapel of very small Creations premiered in the 2022 Changwon Sculpture Biennale, showing a cave of rocks where strange, transcendental creatures emerge. The creations refer to the smallest organism on the planet with liquid bodies that disperse, swim, fly, fall, reminding that life is a symphonic interaction between elements that balance between the earthly and the spiritual other-worldly.
Hooyman is visiting Notre Dame in connection with the “Coexistence and Eco-futurism through Art” visiting artist series. “Coexistence and Eco-futurism through Art” emphasizes harmony across diversity and considers the role of collective action in environmentally conscious thought. Led by Cecilia Kim, assistant professor in Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, the project brings internationally acclaimed artists to Notre Dame for a series of public talks, screenings, exhibitions, and workshops exploring coexistence and eco-futurism through their diverse media.
Learn more about the series here
About the Artist
Simone Hooymans (1974) was born in the Netherlands and lives and works in Norway. A graduate of art academies in Arnhem and Breda, Hooymans is an animation artist whose work transforms watercolor drawings into immersive, living environments. Working intuitively and associatively, she creates atmospheric worlds that unfold through emotion and visual rhythm rather than linear narratives. Her films seduce the viewer into a place beyond reality, a deceitful echo of the natural world while simultaneously taking them on a journey of self-reflection. Hooymans’ work explores the complex and fragile relationship between humans and nature, addressing themes of vulnerability, transformation, and environmental crisis. Through animation, she develops a critical voice on climate change and contemporary global politics, seeking to create a deeper understanding of the complex and rapidly changing world.
Her work has been exhibited internationally at festivals and exhibitions including Ars Electronica, the Dutch Film Festival, and the Beijing Short Film Festival. Hooymans has also participated in exhibitions and film festivals across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her animations have been shown at Norway’s Statens Høstutstilling and Vestlandsutstillingen. Her large-scale installation Talking Plants was presented at Oslo’s Deichman Bjørvika Library and acquired for the Oslo municipal art collection.
About the Venue
The Browning Cinema is a state-of-the-art THX-certified cinematheque presenting a unique program of international, independent and documentary film at Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC). DPAC is located on the south side of the University of Notre Dame campus and directly north of Eddy Street Commons. Free parking is available daily after 4:00 pm in the Stayer Center parking lot, just north of the center. Patrons may now receive free event parking at the Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage by bringing your event tickets and parking ticket to the DPAC Ticket Office to receive a pre-paid parking voucher.
An accessible lot for disabled patrons is available immediately adjacent to the center; a valid hangtag or license plate is required. There is a ten-minute parking zone on the north drive of the center for ticket pick-up; during inclement weather you are welcome to drop off guests in this area and proceed to parking.
Visit DPAC’s website for more information on ticketing, travel and parking, and accessibility details. The Ticket Office will work with you to create a comfortable and enjoyable experience; please contact the Ticket Office at (574) 631-2800 with any questions.
Funding & Support
This project is made possible with funding from the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good. Venue and staffing supported provided by the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
Ancient Beacons Long for Notice is a partner program of the 2027 Notre Dame Arts Biennial and is supported with funding from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.
Image: Animation still image from The Perpetual Tapestry by Simone Hooymans. Image courtesy of the artist.