I’ve spent this week in the convent of the Regular Canonesses of the Holy Grave [Reguliere Kanunnikessen van het Heilige Graf]. A contemplative week on a beautiful wireless estate. On Tuesday, I witnessed the ceremony where palm branches are burned, a tradition within the Roman Catholic Church. Palm branches symbolize the martyr. The next day, on Ash Wednesday, the priest places a cross of ashes from the burned branches on the forehead of the faithful, while he pronounces the words: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” On the same day I photographed the series of double portraits #1 till #6, and selfportraits #067, #068 and #069 using ash to darken my face.