“Let me take you to my world for a moment. Where magic is everywhere and where the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist.

This way please.

You see that little door over there? That’s where I will take you.”

You look at me, a bit nervous.

“Ehm, there’s no knocker or bell on that door? How does it open?”

“This door works differently. Let me show you.”

I knock softly on the door three times and shout: “It's me, Marenthe!”

The wooden door creaks open.

I notice small beads of sweat are running down your forehead.

“Where are we? Why is it so dark in here?” you say in a trembling voice.

“Wait, let me light some candles.

We are on our way to my studio.

The place where I create my magic.

It’s located in the oldest street in The Hague. This used to be a sandy path that ran through the dunes. Opposite my studio there’s is an old mystical church.”

“Wooooow, this is a magical place indeed!”

“I know. Wait, we first have to go through this corridor and then we’ll arrive at my studio.”

We walk down the long, dim hallway. On the walls hang frames with beautifully written texts and works of art. They are lit by candles on large brass stands.

“Whose are these works of art?”

“Oh, those are by artists who inspire me. Look, this one is by Yayoi Kusama. Do you know her?”

With a raised eyebrow you stare at the painting. “What a strange object,” you mutter, mesmerized as you study the pumpkin-like shape in the gold frame.

“I like to be inspired by both great and lesser-known artists from all over the world. I like to pass on this knowledge to my students.

Do you like collages?

This one, for example, is by collage artist John Stezaker.”

“I love this!” you exclaim. “Collages seem so difficult to me. I never know where to start.”

“Oh it’s super-easy, actually. How funny of you to say that. My students thought so too and now they’re all addicted to creating collages.

We’ve arrived!”

You enter my studio with raised eyebrows. The studio is crammed with old books, dusty boxes of paint, thousands of trays of buttons, ribbon, beads and glitter in all colors, piles of magazines from the sixties. You stare around the room. Suddenly your eyes land on my card deck collection.

“No way! You collect card decks? Wow. How many do you have?”

“Oh, about 25. But this is just a small collection. You have to see my wallpaper book collection from Paris!

Come on, I want to show you something. Just climb the stairs over there.

Look, there’s a Hilma AF Klint hanging there. She is one of my greatest inspirations.”

“It’s really beautiful. But… you were going to tell me about the big reveal. So are you going to tell me?”

“Oh yes! Sorry. Please sit down.

I’ll get us some coffee and then I will tell you everything.”