The sun is a common good offered to all
Monotypes on paper 3X (90x76cm) and metal base, series of 3, 2022.

Installations designed for the ‘Rhok's Eye’ collective exhibition of the printing department of RHoK academie at Erasmus House and Beguinage Museum in Anderlecht, Brussels.

February 18 to May 22, 2022

‘RHoK’s eye’ offered a dialogue between contmporary printmakers and the permanents historical works of the Erasmus House musseum.

For this collective exhibition, Marie Anne exhibited three installations inspired by the Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus (1466-1536), who briefly resided in this house in Brussels in 1521. 

In 1516, Erasmus published a Greek edition of the New Testament as well as a Latin and clarified translation of the Vulgate, the official Latin version of the Bible at the time. Following his humanist ideals of lucidity and purity of language, he turned to the original versions of texts, to free them from errors of revision and commentaries of the past. An editorial success thanks to the invention of print, this bold publication shook up the Christian tradition of the time and divided its readers.

The phrase "The sun is a common good offered to everyone" introduces the preface to Erasmus’ New Testament. He pleads for the Bible texts to be translated into all vernacular languages from its Latin translation and to be disseminated to the largest number, across all social categories. Knowledge belongs to all, just like the sun, the brightest of the stars.

The work’s theme, as well as the way its display allows the viewer to circle around it, shows an intention of communication. This transparency recalls Erasmus’ quest for diffusion.