Art as a play of meanings
Since 1990, the artists Maree Blok and Bas Lugthart have been working together making large public art sculptures and site specific art projects in many places in the Netherlands and abroad. Their studio and family home ‘Villa Mundi’ is situated in the small city of Onderdendam in the north of the Netherlands, but often they work together with craftsmen in other countries for the realisation of their sculptures. Although originally they followed separate careers, they gradually became so involved in each other’s ideas and work that they decided to join forces and bring out their work under a joint name.
Their work shows great variation in materials and intrinsic themes but always position man in the centre of physicality, thought, feeling and experience. Blok and Lugthart see the connection between their work and its environment as a vital factor. Commissioned works, as well as autonomous sculptures, are mostly made with a special location or situation in mind.
Their vision seems to touch upon the ideas of anthroposophists and humanists, but it then passes them by to find its own way, its own method to chart the human condition. In this sense Blok and Lugthart are firmly grounded in a typical end-of-the-century artistic calling, with their own body and their own mind as point of departure.
The work of artists Maree Blok and Bas Lugthart embraces various disciplines and developments in modern art. Abstract and recognizable forms and shapes in diverse materials and techniques are combined to create sculptures, video-sculptures and installations. The fusion of disciplines, which were strictly separate until recently, leads to a shift in the well-known meanings and symbols of traditional iconography. This development within the vacuum of the post-modern era has determined the character of the work made by Blok and Lugthart in recent years.
The works do not limit themselves simply to the image, the medium or the material they are made of but they fill walls and spaces and interact almost light-hearted with the environment and the observer.
Abteikamp Dusseldorf Duitsland.
D’hors cadres – int. exposition Geneve / Zwitserland
De Digitale rivier – Noorderlicht /Anderwereld exposition Groningen
Lost in Wonder – public art sculpture Emmen
2000 The changing same – water sculpture – University Groningen
Zonder transport staat alles stil – sculptuur T.L.N. – Drachten
The man who fell to earth – Monument Vlaardingen
Working period – India
2001 Tijdkijkers – video sculpture – Bastion Leeuwarden
It Sil Heve Elfstedenmonument – Leeuwarden/Tytsjerksteradiel Friesland
Sluiswachters – sculptures Sluis de Punt
2002 Open boek – Photosculpture – Gemeentehuis Diemen
Dance of life – videoinstallation exposition Groningen
Oog in Oog – University of Groningen
2003 Het Grote Gezicht – fontain sculpture public art- Joure
Mens van water public sculpture – art project Amsterdam
It Sil Heve – Elfstedenmonument 2e fase
Bewegende beelden – Raamsdonkveer
Kunstspoor exposition – Stedum
2005 Museum of Modern Commodities Videoproject
1000 paintings project
Face of Amsterdam exposition – city of Amsterdam
2006 Storyteller – Multimedia sculpture – Oegstgeest
Waterschap Reest & Wieden – sculpture design Meppel
Working period art project – Italy
2007 Duiven van St Jansdal Multimedia sculpture – Harderwijk
Made in heaven – Multimedia sculpture
Working period art project – Nepal
2008 Wolkom sculpture design – Afsluitdijk Friesland
2009 Wall of Wonders – Tilemosaic New 7 wonders design – Dubai
2010 Sterrenspoor – artwork/observatory – Zuidhorn
Suncatcher – lightsculpture/sundial – Etten-Leur
2011 Nine Bridges Overbruggen sculpture – Hoorn
Waterhuis multi media sculpture – Nieuwegein
2012 Porceleine Fles expo- Delft
This way That way – kinetic sculpture – Niezijl
Walking the dog – public art sculpture design – Eindhoven
Man walking – sculpture design- Farnesia Italy
2013 Gezicht op Helmond – Multimedia sculpture design Helmond
Het betoverde bos – Kinetic sculptures – gem. Bergen
2014 Looking for you – 2 public art sculptures – Gem. Vlagtwedde
Rustpunten – 5 sculptures div. places Gem.Eemsmond
Dancing on water – public art sculptures design – Aalburg
Slapende reus – sculpture Zoetermeer design
2015 Great Friends – sculptures Schiphol Airport design
Made in Almelo – public art sculpture city-entrance Almelo