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Maarten Bel

spirituality , installation , glass art , Gender , Education , Ecology , D.I.Y , crossover , Conceptual , Abstract

Artist Maarten Bel came out of an egg in 1987. Since then he has loved animals and questions the status quo by imitating plants and sucking bagpipes. (Did you know that pipes used to mean playing the flute?)

Maarten alienates his audience by addressing heavy themes in a humorous way, often drawing inspiration from everyday events. In his world, the Smurfs are melting due to climate change, the cleaning up of rubbish becomes a more fanatical game than Monopoly, and there is few as sexy as an embroiderer. It also sometimes happens that Maarten involves his audience in his work. Then people look very difficult at first and then they really like it. Nine out of ten dentists agree: Maarten Bel gives you a headbutt after which you feel reborn.

Feestboterham - As a child, my brothers and I were allowed to make party sandwiches every now and then. That wasn't just playing with food, but turning it into works of art. All possible toppings were used and we carefully considered composition, structure and color. The sandwich was our canvas, the knife our brush. When we were satisfied, we served our works of art to our parents as paintings on the bed. They did not always appreciate the combination of chocolate sprinkles and sausage, but for us it was a celebration that almost no birthday could compete with. It was stimulating all the senses at once: not least the imagination. The pleasure remained, in a wonderful aftertaste of pride and pate with pesto. These works of art are a tribute to that first introduction to art. Sometimes art is already in making a sandwich. Bread can be art; art is always bread. The sandwiches are dried and impregnated in several layers with two-component floor lacquer.
F*CK *U - Cozy lighting with a sweet Valentine's message. Ideal to let your ex know that you are thinking of him or her.
Jaarkalender Borduren In De Avonduren - Flashy embroidery calendar for the new year. Model: Maarten Bel. Photography: Aad Hoogendoorn. Location: Suite Hotel Pincoffs Rotterdam.
Geen ontbijt - Days like these are ideal for picking up a needle, thread and wine. Plenty of time to immortalize thoughts on cheesecloth that usually fade away in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Includes embroidery hoop, available in three sizes of size and various sizes of humor.
Plan B - Project in collaboration with Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and Zadkine. MBO students think about how to make museums more attractive to young people. Among the ideas are a demonstration section in which a different subject is discussed every day, a drive-in museum and graffiti on the outside walls. The ideas are bundled in an illustration by Conform Cox and presented to the museum as a visual advisory report.
Vondelkabouter - As a joke, Maarten Bel asked at the information desk of a garden center whether the garden gnomes were full size. The employee said he didn't know but would ask. That unexpected response to his smart-aleck question made him wonder if he could revive the belief in leprechauns. After all, mythical creatures are often the first victims of maturation and a crumbling fantasy. At 1,96 meters, Bel is not a credible gnome. Yet during KadS 2021 he will camp in the Vondelpark as Maarten the Vondelgnome, with a funny pointed hat and all. His base is a huge dented beer can, with the specification 'capacity: 33.000 liters' on the side. That is less fairytale-like than a mushroom, red with white dots, but fits perfectly with the capital's recreational greenery. Bel invites passers-by for a chat. But he also sets out to tempt them into activities that always turn out slightly differently than expected. For example, you can search for small pointed hats with the contact details of gnomes who are longing for a pen pal. Mushroom soup is cooked for the homeless in the park. And you can participate in competitive beachcombing, where different types of litter are awarded points based on their rarity. Bel sees the Vondelpark as his canvas and himself as the strange brush that paints on it. Above all, he is an ambassador of the imagination, of which the belief in gnomes is the ultimate example. He hopes to return park visitors to the childlike state where everything is still possible and nothing is too crazy. And in which an oversized kobold is not so strange.
Standbeeld - Statue at the intersection of Bergselaan and Bieslandstraat in Rotterdam-Noord. Commissioned by RORO Buiten, it will remain in place until October 2022.
Ratterdam Tours - Where there are people, there are rats. Throughout history, rats have always been part of our civilization. Yet they are known as unwanted invaders that breed diseases. This is not entirely correct. Rats are very smart and social, and are quite similar to humans in their behavior and reactions. With Ratterdam Tours, the public is invited aboard a sailing rat and guided past Rotterdam's many quays, restaurants, bridges and other potential rat nests. The boat is equipped with a whisper motor and speaker with lure sounds of playing baby rats. While the audience looks for rats with binoculars, Maarten Bel talks about the relationship between humans and rats. This multidisciplinary work of art pays tribute to man's age-old companion, in an attempt to break through his negative image.
Wenswerken - The interactive installation 'Wish Works' by artist Maarten Bel can be seen in the City Gallery. And the great thing is, everyone can participate in this! Do you have to live on little money? And do you have a wish for something that you cannot afford, for example a birthday cake, a bouquet of flowers or a bicycle for your child? Then participate in Wish Works and pass on your wish in the City Gallery. Maarten Bel makes drawings of the wishes and sells them in the museum. He uses the money from the sold drawings to buy what's on them! Who knows, your wish may come true! Then Maarten Bel will personally deliver your wish to your home. For anyone who can spare something and wants to help someone: come by and see which Wenswerk appeals to you. Scan the QR code next to the work to purchase the drawing, pick up a Sold sticker at the cash register and stick it over the QR code. Done! Thanks to you, a Schiedammer's wish will come true and you will receive a real Maarten Bel on the wall! Will you also come by to fulfill a wish? 'Wishworks' is part of the exhibition 'Out of poverty. Art, history and stories. It works like this: 1. As a Schiedammer who lives with too little money, you can submit a wish for a product that you cannot afford. It could be anything. From birthday cake to vacuum cleaner, children's bicycle or refrigerator. 2. Maarten Bel draws the objects and offers these drawings for sale here. Exactly for the price of the item on it. 3. As a visitor, do you like to help a Schiedammer and do you want a real Maarten Bel on the wall at home? Then choose a Wish Work and scan the QR code to purchase it. Request a sold sticker at the checkout. Maarten Bel sends the work to you. 4. The money paid for the artwork is used to purchase the drawn object. And given to the Schiedammer by Bel.
Takkenmuseum - The Branch Museum pays tribute to the branch. Here you will find many unique specimens, including postmodern branches, veteran branches, relay branches, burial branches, burnt branches, shoe branches, de-poaching branches, camouflaged branches, magic branches, flat and straight branches, particularly beautiful branches, ghost branches and much more.
The gift factory
De cadeaufabriek - Children's series for VPRO about making presents.

Expeditie Ratterdam

Date:

Struikjutten

Date:
Location: Rotterdam Zuid
In association with: South Explorer

Cultural hotspots, temporary locations, galleries, the Oude Kerk, studios and art shops open their doors at the same time with a varied and challenging offer. Scroll and Swipe through Rotterdam South and create your own programme. You can expect presentations in a shop window, exhibitions in project spaces and galleries, open studios, performances and concerts.

https://maartenbel.nl/event/straatjutten/

Buurtplaatjes

Date:
Location: Schiedam-Oost
In association with: Stedelijk Museum Schiedam

Where in the Netherlands can you save your neighbor across the street, have your friend three blocks away double and get a picture of yourself when you do your shopping? Only with you, in Schiedam-East.

https://www.stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl/buurtplaatjes/
This artist has no awards yet.