Secret, Sacred & Scattered

Artist list

Laila Marie Costa, Maria Konschake, Into Niilo

The exhibition is structured around three themes – Secret, Sacred, and Scattered – each connected to the work of a specific resident. Together, these themes shed light on how objects acquire meaning, preserve memories, or distort them. Into Niilo explores the hidden and personal in Secret, Maria Konschake examines the layers of stories and heritage in Sacred, and Laila Marie Costa reflects on fragmentation and transformation in Scattered. Each piece invites reflection, interaction, and discovery, with the visitor playing an active role in unraveling these stories.



Maria Konschake (b. 1990, Germany) blurs the line between critical design and art with her jewellery, which explores societal themes such as identity. Sacred refers to Maria’s current research into the workings of memory and the value we assign to objects and stories.
During her residency at DIVA, Maria was inspired by the Flemish Hearts in the collection, which led her to create a fictional history about 17th-century oyster sellers and their new craft. In Contaminated (memories), she examines how objects carry memories and evoke stories, how history and meaning constantly shift. She demonstrates how objects can sometimes be sacred bearers of heritage and identity.

Into Niilo (b. 1990, Russia) is an artist and jewellery designer with a background in fashion. Into’s work is notable for its innovative use of materials and techniques, often infused with dark humour and surreal elements. Focusing on the body as a therapeutic response to dysmorphophobia, Into asks how one makes the invisible tangible.
In Secret, hidden meanings, language, and personal introspection are central. Into's creations contain secret messages or texts that only become visible under specific conditions, such as UV light. Through subtle interactions and layered symbolism, the jewellery invites viewers to look beyond the surface. What initially appears purely decorative in Special Secret Song Inside turns out to be an invitation to reflect and discover: those who search, illuminate, and interpret become part of the artwork.

Laila Marie Costa (b. 1970, Australia) is a multidisciplinary artist who collects materials from the urban environment and transforms them into jewellery, assemblages, and installations. Her work is fragmentary, eclectic, and Scattered, existing at the boundary between art and everyday life. Laila gives discarded objects new meaning, where value lies not in material worth, but in transformation.
For this exhibition, Laila created an installation with sculptural jewellery that comes to life in a performance, where the interaction between objects, body, and visitor takes centre stage. Een tegenvoeter on a slow train to Diamantsville, Antverpia invites us to view jewellery not only as aesthetic objects but also as carriers of memories and societal reflections.


Important dates 'Secret, Sacred & Scattered'​
 

• Festive opening on Thursday, 27 February – registrations closed: performance by Laila Marie Costa; speeches; DIVA talk with Laila Marie Costa and Peter Vermandere – more info here (ENG + NL)
  + Nocturne until 22:00: The focus exhibition and the temporary exhibition Pinned! Contemporary Antwerp Jewellery will be open until 22:00. The permanent exhibition will not be.
• Secret, Sacred & Scattered. 3 artists, 3 stories, 1 exhibition will be open at the DIVA museum from 28 February to 30 March 2025.
  Admission is included in the regular ticket. More info and tickets here.
• DIVA talk on 11 March: Into Niilo + Nadine Wijnants & Mark Van Grieken – More info here (ENG + NL).
• DIVA talk on 25 March: Maria Konschake + Beppe Kessler – More info here (ENG + NL).