LOST MESSAGE

'Lost Message #1' (2015)

Overtaken by the Future

In some of my work I speculate on 'hot' phenomena to dissolve and disappear in the future; for example we all know YouTube isn't going to last forever.

Some phenomena disappear quicker then expected.

The work titled '20th Century Nostalgia (Slapstick)' combined a very 20th century phenomenon with an image very much part of 'now'. That 'now' will definitely be part of histroy soon.

Slapstick can not be seen apart from the first era of motion picture history. Although it is still very popular in contemporary comedy, slapstick will always be associated with the movies from the 1920's and 30's.

At this moment most of us use Facebook as a social tool. We all use the 'like' button several times a day, but the famous 'thumbs up' will disappear in the near future. An icon will disappear, as most of the Facebook users associate the 'thumb' and 'like'.

The work titled '20th Century Nostalgia (Slapstick)' in consequence should be retitled '20th & 21st Century Nostalgia (Slapstick)' ... but, well I think I'll just leave it as it is for now.

'20th Century Nostalgia (Slapstick)'

I PIXEL YOUR LOUNGE, YOU PIXEL MINE

Trajector Intermezzo: Single Occupancy & Double Dates

 

In the Lounge of Hotel Bloom (left to right):
'Christine' (2013), '21st Century Nostalgia (Penguin)' (2012), '20th Century Nostalgia (Pall Mall)' (2011), 'Bazooka' (2012)

CHRISTINE

'Christine' (2013)
147x76x11cm

MARGARETHA

'Margaretha' (2013)
119x87x11cm

In a new series of femmes fatales this is Margaretha or to be precise: Margaretha 'Griet' Zelle aka Mata Hari. Based upon a handcolored photograph from about 1900 when Mata Hari was in her prime as an exotic/erotic artist.

The series femmes fatales focuses on the 'blurry' world of eroticism and (political) power.
The resulting pixel-sculptures seem to represent the classic pin-up rather then the specific historical persons.

RUDE SCULPTURE

'Rude Sculpture (Scheiß Skulptur)' (2013)

Another exercise in censored imagery: what we are (not) allowed to see and what we chose to ignore.

CURVEBALL

'Curveball' (draft for sculpture) (2013)

Bazooka

The 'pixel-sculptures' translate 2D digital pixelated images to 3D objects. In general they deal with censorship and what we are not allowed or (on the other hand) do not want to see. Besides that they show the transformative state of material objects and ideas in time.

'20th Century Sediment (Bazooka)' (2012)

'20th Century Sediment (Bazooka)' represents a popular teenage culture consumer product introduced in the last century: bubble gum. Popular as it still is, it is one of those phenomena that is probably bound to disappear. The stains of flattened chewing gum in the pavement will be puzzling remains for future archeologists.

SPAM

The pixeled sculptures I make originate in the principle of censorship, either positive or negative. In my recent work I use the pixeled image also to show phenomena in our surroundings that are bound to change or disappear (or already have done so) in which pixelation can be seen as a transformative stage of the slowly dissolving image, already blurred in eye and mind.

Another aspect of the censorship-principle is Taboo. In origin Taboo is a religious or supernatural affair, a prohibition of certain actions too sacred for ordinary people to undertake. It stems from Polynesian cultures (Tapu or Tabu).

Western civilisation has adapted the term Taboo eagerly and in time has been used rather for socially and morally unaccepted behavior instead of religious and sacred affairs. 

We might loosely conclude that today our Western social status is more sacred than our relationship with the supernatural.

The unwanted electronic advertisements we call Spam usually deal with products that address nowadays Taboos. These products advertise unacceptable social behavior, mostly boundless sexual activities, lust for money or brazen luxury.

'21st Century Spam (Blue)' (2012)

 

'21st Century Spam (Blue)' (2012) 

Slapstick

'20th Century Nostalgia (Slapstick)' (2012)

21st Century Nostalgia (Penguin)

'21st Century Nostalgia (Penguin)' (2012)

Modern Classic

'Modern Classic (bl**p)' (2012)

Depixelate

Today in Rotterdam (alledged/) notorious Amsterdam gangster Willem H. was released from prison.

Time for a reprise I guess!


'Willem H.' (2007)

Neoclassicism

'21st Century Neoclassicism (Have A Nice Day!)' (2011)


foreground: '20th Century Nostalgia (Pall Mall)' (2011)

DE AANSCHOUW

'21st Century Nostalgia (YouTube)' (2011)

Yesterday I presented a new work for De Aanschouw.

De Aanschouw (trans. The Observation) is an old bulletin board on the outside of a pub, now transformed into a street gallery. Every week there is a new exhibition and the exhibitions are changed every friday night at half past nine in the evening, beers in hand.

I decided to use a clear image for street presentation. A contemporary image that is already in the collective memory but taken out of context: the YouTube logo, translated in a 3D pixeled sculpture/relief.

The YouTube logo is almost strictly confined to the internet screen. Putting it in the street and within the context of an 'art' presentation, questions about our viewing habits and recognition arise.

The pixeled sculptures I make originate in the principle of censorship, either positive or negative. In my recent work I am using the pixeled image also for showing phenomena in our surroundings that are bound to change or disappear (or already have done so).
Pixelation can be seen as a transformative stage of the slowly dissolving image, already blurred in eye and mind.

Although at the moment YouTube is one of the most popular and influential media we can almost be certain that in a not too far future, probably within a few decades, it will be a thing of the past.

It is intriguing to wonder what archeologists of the far future will dig up as visual remnants of the digital age!

Security at work

'Security' in the lobby of M30 Architecten

20th Century Nostalgia (part 2)

20th Century Nostalgia [T65] (2011)

LES PAULS / LES É(T)PAUL(E)S

Duo-exhibition/installation by 'Les Pauls': artist/photographer Paul Posse and me (Paul van den Hout).

On show until July 24th, 2011 at Rotabs, Zaagmolenkade 46, Rotterdam (the Netherlands)

21st Century Nostalgia

21st Century Nostalgia, part I (2011)

20th Century Nostalgia

20th Century Nostalgia (2011)