Tag: kunst

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Artistic message from Gaza

(Nederlandse versie)

In this post I feature the latest work ‘No time to recover’ and WAR by Ahmed Aldaalsa, an artist from Gaza (March/April 2025)

No time to recover - by Ahmed Aldaalsa - Gaza
No time to recover – by Ahmed Aldaalsa – Gaza

Ahmed about this drawing:
“Well this person is me and I am trying to talk in this work about not recovering because you know the war is back again so I did not take enough time for my mind and body to recover and now I feel very scattered and also I am holding a cactus in my hand which is a symbol of patience here in Palestine“

While Gaza is, still and again, under siege by Netanyahu’s army. Ahmed and his family are still trying to survive and overcome this devastating defeat. But like the titel of his latest drawing, he is not able to recover this intense and brutal crimes against them. While most Gazans drown in silent despair, Ahmed can still draw us a picture.

Ahmed’s story is the story of many Gazans; their situation is dire and distressing. I gave Ahmed a guest page on my website in July 2024 and exhibited his work in art space the Langhuis Zwolle. You can read more about it at https://maritotto.nl/guest-page/ or https://www.langhuis.nl/expected-gaza-24/.

I am fully aware of my own lack of power but I think it is still important that the story, including the personal and in this case the artistic story, continues to be told and that the eyes of the world remain on Gaza (and the West Bank). Also, it is my indictment of Netanyahu, I hope justice will be done.

WAR - drawing by Ahmed Aldaalsa - Gaza
WAR – drawing by Ahmed Aldaalsa – Gaza
Detail of No time to recover'. The catus is symbol for patience in Gaza.
Detail of No time to recover’ – Holding cactus meaning ‘patience’

Do you wish to support/help Ahmed? check this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-ahmed-and-his-family-to-safety

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Enable & Disable

(Nederlandse versie)

Hereby I present my latest artworks to you; ‘Enable & Disable (diptych)

Acrylic on canvas

50 x 50 x 1cm each

2025

Enable & Disable -Enable & Disable - acryl op canvas - 50 x 50 cm- 2025
Enable & Disable – acryl op canvas – 50 x 50 cm- 2025

Enable and disable; these words hold power to switch on or off. Each time we are asked to enable or disable we take a turn in one direction. This trivial action may have implications.

As individuals we sometimes seem and feel powerless but together we can be a force of change, if we choose to.

Sadly, the global unregulated free market in its current form has been proving destructive to the planet but is now endangering our democracies as well.

At the root of every product is a producer, but then there is also, ultimately, a user. We are that users. Without a user a producer is a king without a kingdom, an empty, harmless shell. So what we as consumers do, buy and use matters. We are able to enable and disable. Switch on and off. With every purchase, we enable someone at the end of the line. We are able to make kings rise and fall and disable or enable anyone who can or can’t handle our confidence and saves or steals our future.

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Serious Attitude

Hereby I present to you; ‘Serious Attitude (this is not democracy)’

Digital artprint on paper
50 x 50 cm
2025

Serious Attitude-Serious Attitude - digi-print on paper- 50 x 50 cm- 2025
Serious Attitude – digi-print on paper- 50 x 50 cm- 2025


I captured this situation when I was in Luxembourg some years ago.
I altered it a bit and have taken it to the actuality.
It’s a symbolic comment.

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Exhibition at Nel, Amsterdam

(Nederlandse versie)

The paintings Virgin Screen 01 and 02 and #Do You Follow Me and #Are You Following Me, are on display again starting this week at Nel , sustainable design at Waddenweg 3a in Amsterdam.

For a couple of years I have had a special cooperation with Jorrit Tol (Nel). Stop by to see my work but certainly also to check out his special sustainable design furniture.

The artworks are selected from the Brave New World series

More about Nel: https://www.nel.nl/

More about Brave New World: https://maritotto.nl/brave-new-world-2018-2/

Virgin Screens - acryl op canvas- 100 x 150 cm - 2023
Virgin Screens – acryl op canvas- 100 x 150 cm – 2023
Virgin Screen - Green 2024- schilderij
Virgin Screen – Green 2024
#Do You Follow Me + #Are You Following Me
#Do You Follow Me + #Are You Following Me – Two light-boxes with led light. Part of the installation Dedicated Follower. Artwork/diptych without the video. Fitting the theme.
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Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions is shortlisted

(Nederlandse versie)

Wonderful news, my painting ‘ Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions’ has been shortlisted in the Singulart International Women’s Day 2025 Award!

The jury states that it stands out with its unique perspective on the theme of (female) Bravery.

Last-Gatekeepers-Of-Lost-Revolutions-acryl-op-canvas-beeldende-kunst-Marit-Otto
Acryl op canvas 100/150 cm

About the work itself:
Hovering female figures spreading their arms wide open and floating around. They are jumping and moving simultaneously. They are clearly present and strong. The last gatekeepers is referring to a world where young men, the proverbial sons, are sent to war by other men. This is why, I believe, when women rule, wars will end. No mother in her right mind will ever send her child voluntarily to a war, any war.

Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions is part of the Metropolitan series and is currently on display in Bruxelles handled by Bernice, Art Rental and Gallery in Temse.


Check this work at; https://www.singulart.com/nl/kunstwerken/marit-otto-last-gatekeepers-of-lost-revolutions-54563

More about the Metropolitan series: https://maritotto.nl/metropolieten-2017-2/

Anxious to hear the final verdict, I’ll keep you posted!

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Sea Of Tranquility

(Nederlandse versie)

Sea Of Tranquility 2025 

Acrylic on canvas 

155 x 90

Part of the Brave New World series

Sea Of Tranquility - acrylic on canvas - 155 x 90 cm - 2025
Sea Of Tranquility – acrylic on canvas – 155 x 90 cm – 2025

This painting features 7 alienated versions of me.

I am not truly at ease with the concept of AI, but as an image creator, I felt the need to know where the future of image creation is heading. So I started my first investigation into AI in Photoshop. 

I used a recent picture of myself and simply instructed the conceptual toolbar: ‘’improve‘’. The result of this one instruction was a bit of horror meets a VR-loving alien. A surprising and baffling introduction to AI, but not really a compliment.

I now imagine that in its eyes, my request for improvement could only lead to something that would visually resemble a physical version of itself, just like the creator who created humankind in his own image. As uncanny as this outcome was, it inspired me to create this canvas on which a more sympathetic version of this raw first artificial draft, times seven, rises from a restless sea of tranquillity. 

What AI made of me
What AI made of me

I thank AI for this inspiration, but I am not sure if I will become a frequent flyer, though; probably I will and without knowing that I do, just like the rest of us. She is beyond us.

I’m not sure our lives will get better with AI and all that it embeds and will encapsulate in the future.

 If it were up to me (it is not), I would rather live life with all its beautiful, natural imperfections and oddities with the certainty of death than become a servant of a perfect faceless system with a poor imagination.

This painting is handmade.

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Fly Now Pay Later

(Nederlandse versie)

Pen and ink on paper 70 x70 x 2 cm

Hereby I introduce my latest artwork ‘Fly Now Pay Later’ to you

Fly Now pay Later - pen on paper 70 x 70 cm 2025
Fly Now pay Later – pen on paper 70 x 70 cm 2025

If only we had wings and winged words that could fly us everywhere

If only we could save our last treads of evaporating fantasy

A free flight to the middle of nowhere

We will compensate, 

later.

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Silicon Valley

(Nederlandse versie)

Hereby I introduce my latest work ‘Silicon Valley’ to you.

Two silicone brains and adhesive letters on metal base 50cm x 25cm x ± 20 cm

Now on display @ Kunstruimte Het Langhuis

Silicon Valley - Silicon brains and transfer characters on a metal plate - 50 x 25 cm - 2025
Silicon Valley – Silicon brains and transfer characters on a metal plate – 50 x 25 cm – 2025

Freedom is a dance a movement, those who stand idle and unmoved will sooner or later find themselves dancing to the tune of another

Silicon Valley ergo Uncanny Valley

Silicon Valley-front
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In Our Nature 2024

(klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie)

Hereby I present my latest painting to you.

In Our Nature – 2024

Acrylic on canvas

70 x 70 cm

Part of the Side show series

In Our Nature 2024- Acrylic on canvas- part of the Side Show series
In Our Nature 2024- Acrylic on canvas- part of the Side Show series

The blue letters on a paper bag smiled at me from the roadside, It has been there for a while, at least a few days. Yet it hasn’t been so long that either the blue is discoloured or the bag half-decayed. It still looks fresh. Next to the bag, scraps of what was probably a burger. A piece of grey matter in yellow-pink goo hangs bloodlessly from a white bag, with green limp lettuce leaves and a sliver of tomato as irrefutable evidence of knowledge of good nutricion. A pair of soulless and limp fries stick out of a bright red cardboard container. A striped straw protrudes triumphantly from a large white cup with plastic cap which combined with the red tray of fainted fries gives a festive look. What a happy meal this must have been. 

Everywhere I look I find these silent testimonies of feeding frenzy that apparently had to take place then and there and that after a big burp of pleasure suddenly became too much. Was it too heavy on the stomach to move what was left just an inch? 

Evidently, that which was picked up, wheeled around and nibbled on full of desire and gluttony had to be disassociated from as soon as possible, immediately in fact. 

Those who love blue letters can move from A to B while scrabbling. Those less fond of it see mostly a correlation.