Tag: Zwolle

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KUNST IN ZWOLLE ZUID?

(English version)

Afgelopen najaar ben ik weer benaderd door deltaWonen en Stichting Het Werkt Sociaal (voorheen Travers), met de vraag of ik mee wil denken/werken aan een community- art project in Zwolle Zuid. Om precies te zijn de Van der Capellenstraat rondom het winkelcentrum.

In 2016 heb ik eerder in opdracht van deltaWonen een community-artproject gedaan in de hal van het wooncomplex Wade Belvedere, Stadshagen, Zwolle. Dat was een prachtig leuk project met een blijvend resultaat; een vrolijke zonnige entree die nog altijd in deze vorm in gebruik is.


Nu, aanstaande zaterdag 25 april 2026 sta ik met mijn presentatie tijdens de Oranjefair tussen 16u en 18u in de binnentuin van de Regentenstraat onder de noemer: KUNST IN JE WIJK.

Het doel hiervan is betrokken en creatieve buurtbewoners werven die aan willen haken bij dit project. Als kerngroep kan je meedenken en werken aan de realisatie van een mooi kunstwerk op de wanden in deze buurt.

Woon je in deze buurt en lijkt het je wat, dan zie ik jou graag langskomen. De intekenlijst ligt klaar.

Tot zaterdag!?





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THISCREPANCY

THISCREPANCY – pen and ink on paper – 70 x 70 cm- 2026

(Nederlandse versie)

THISCREPANCY - pen and ink drawing - 70 x 70 cm 2026
THISCREPANCY – pen and ink drawing – 70 x 70 cm 2026
Soldier, seen from behind, heavily armed, has orders from higher up. He obeys and asks no questions, because that's what soldiers do. 

Souldier seen from behind, heavily armed, has orders from higher up. He has moral objections and poses questions, because that is what soldiers should do.

Soldier will not judge right or wrong, he carries out orders. Just a tool, an extension of a greater power. 

Souldier might have an opinion about what is right and wrong and is prudent in carrying out an order. Much more than a tool or an extension of a higher power.

Soldier has no political colour, just camouflage colours; he serves whoever pays his wages. 

Souldier has no political colour, just camouflage colours; his humanity is not for sale.

Soldier obeys and asks no questions, because that is what soldiers do

Souldier have moral objections and pose questions, because that is what soldiers should do.

With Gaza and Westbank in mind, a heads up against the oppression of Netanyahu and pro peace, for U.S.A. Citizens heads up against ICE (and Trump) pro peace, Ukraine heads up against Putin and pro peace. The list could go on for ever- heads up for all who wants a peaceful living without oppressors.

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Exhibition ‘Common Ground’, Courtrai, Belgium

(Nederlandse versie)

Coming soon: International Group Exhibition ‘COMMON GROUND’ at Larry Gallery

Exhibition COMMON GROUND - Sea Of Tranquility
Exhibition COMMON GROUND – Sea Of Tranquility on display at Larry Gallery, Kortrijk Belgium

This exhibition is curated by Nicolaes Devriendt, Larry Gallery, and showcases 27 international artist including myself. 

27 artist will be presented on two locations in Courtrai, Belgium, over a six week period. It opens at January 29th to March 15th at these two locations: Koning Leopold I straat 26 & Groeningestraat 36.

I wil exhibit two of my latest works there; Sea Of Tranquility and Space Invaders.

“Common Ground reflects the gallery’s ongoing commitment to emerging talent. It reinforces an understanding of contemporary art that values depth, risk, and independence over instant legibility.” 

This quote is attributed to:  Kisito Assangni (Togolese-French curator, art consultant) who wrote an item about this upcoming exhibition in Artdependence  Magazine.

You can read whole article here: https://artdependence.com/articles/common-ground-belgiums-most-anticipated-exhibition-of-emerging-artists-in-2026/

Participating Artists :

LARRY GALLERY

Exhibition Dates : January 29 – March 15

Locations:  Groeningestraat 26, Kortrijk

 Koning Leopold I Straat 26, Kortrijk

banner: Exhibition Exhibition COMMON GROUND - artwork by: Rafael Smet
banner: Exhibition Exhibition COMMON GROUND – artwork by: Rafael Smet










	


	





		

		
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META REFUGEE
	


	
	

		

(Nederlandse versie)





Pen and ink on Paper 





70 x 70





2025





META REFUGEE- 2025- Pen and ink on paper - 70 x 70 cm
META REFUGEE- 2025- Pen and ink on paper – 70 x 70 cm





There is a prison that’s called freedom by its owner.





There is a story that’s called truth by a liar.





There is outrage that’s called civil by a demagogue.





There is a castle in the air that’s denying gravity





There are dead end streets that never lead to Rome










Where beauty is a face that looks like Silicon Valley





Where clickbait is a business model sold as creativity










There is a refugee thats named data in the Matrix





and she wants to go home.










(Thank you Prince for inspiring me with the lyrics from the song Welcome To America)










More drawings: https://maritotto.nl/pen-and-ink-drawing/

	


	





		

		
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Heavenly Peace revisited
	


	
	

		

(Nederlandse versie)





I hereby present to you ‘Heavenly Peace revisited (the imbalance of power)’






This pen drawing is a creative collaboration between myself and Ahmed Aldaalsa, an artist from Gaza. It expresses a feeling of powerlessness. Pen and ink on paper, 65 x 65 cm.





Heavenly Peace revisited (The imbalance of power) A collaboration between Ahmed Aldaalsa and Marit Otto 2025
Heavenly Peace revisited (The imbalance of power) A collaboration between Ahmed Aldaalsa and Marit Otto 2025





The image is based on an iconic image from 1989 in which the Chinese army violently suppressed a large-scale student protest. The student in the image, armed only with two plastic bags in both hands, stood motionless in protest in front of a line of giant tanks rolling into Tiananmen Square. He did not flinch when the front tank drove threateningly towards him. Nothing has been heard of the anonymous student in question since then. 





Next to the student who seems frozen in time stands a young Palestinian man armed with a flag. Different time and place, same image, the powerless provoking the powerful. The direct confrontation with the overwhelming colossus is a symbolic act that he could never win. 





Equity and human rights, can that be something of different consequence for one person than for another?





The powerless against the powerful, a David against a Goliath, but then the David of the past would be the Goliath of today.










More work by Ahmed is also to be seen in this exhibition: https://maritotto.nl/exhibition-how-can-anyone-lose-everything-he-owns-and-not-lose-his-mind/

	


	





		

		
Geplaatst op 
Almost Sold Out
	


	
	

		

Almost Sold out





Pen en ink on paper/ Pen en inkt op papier





70 x 70 cm





2025





Almost Sold Out 2025- Pen and ink on paper - 70 x 70 cm
Almost Sold Out 2025- Pen and ink on paper – 70 x 70 cm






Life as we know it: ‘Only few left. Don’t miss out. Last stock. While stocks last. Everything apparently has its price.  Does it matter? Should it matter? Cause before you know it, it’s gone.






Het leven zoals dat gaat: ‘Er zijn er nog maar een paar over. Mis deze kans niet. Laatste voorraad. Zolang de voorraad strekt. Alles heeft blijkbaar zijn prijs. Doet het er toe? Zou het er toe moeten doen? Want voor je het weet is het weg‘






	


	





		

		
Geplaatst op 
Occupied
	


	
	

		

Pen/ink on paper





(Nederlandse versie)





70 x 70 cm





2025





Occupied - pen/ink on paper- 70 x 70 cm -2025
Occupied – pen/ink on paper- 70 x 70 cm -2025





How are things over there?  How does hunger feel? How does it feel to be slowly erased? How does it feel to dominate the news but still not be seen? What would I do if my country was occupied? Would my resistance be armed? What if the aggressor was once a victim too? And what if that is precisely at the root of this mayhem .





It keeps me occupied, it keeps them occupied.

	


	





		

		
Geplaatst op 
Serenity Now
	


	
	

		

Pen (ink) on paper 





70 x 70 cm





2025





Serenity Now - Pen on paper- 70 x 70 cm 2025
Serenity Now- Pen on paper – 70 x 70 cm- 2025





To be connected and being connected can be of a completely different nature.





To be in touch, getting in touch and a physical touch can be worlds apart.





An introspective gaze does not necessarily mean you are soul searching.





Title is inspired by the comedy Seinfeld. 

	


	





		

		
Geplaatst op 
MAN’S WORLD
	


	
	

		


MAN’S WORLD 2025





Acrylic on canvas





180 x 100 cm





Man's World - Acrylic on canvas -180 x 100 cm- 2025
Man’s World – Acrylic on canvas -180 x 100 cm- 2025





Part of the Brave New World series










James Brown cried; ‘It’s Mans World’,





‘Do you know that man makes money





To buy from other man





………………………………………….





This is a man’s world





But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing





Not one little thing without a woman or a girl





…………………………………………





He’s lost in the wilderness





He’s lost in bitterness





He’s lost, lawd have mercy now, in loneliness‘





……………………………………………





I’ve condensed it a little on the key points.





And then I imagined Joe Jackson replied with his Real Men;





…………………………………………….





‘What’s a man now? What’s a man mean?





Is he rough or is he rugged? Is he cultural and clean?





Now it’s all changed, it’s got to change more





‘Cause we think it’s getting better but nobody’s really sure





……………………………………………………………………





And so it goes, go ‘round again





But now and then we wonder who the real men are





……………………………………………………………………





Time to get scared, time to change plan





Don’t know how to treat a lady, don’t know how to be a man





Time to admit what you call defeat





‘Cause there’s women running past you now and you just drag your feet





………………………………………………………………….





Man makes a gun, man goes to war





Man can kill and man can drink and man can take a whore





Kill all the blacks, kill all the reds





And if there’s war between the sexes then there’ll be no people left





…………………………………………………………………………





And so it goes, go ‘round again





But now and then we wonder who the real men are.‘





………………………………………………………………………..





And again me condensing it on key points…… but still, a mans point of view on men and I agree on it.










Mans World By James Brown:





Real men by Joe Jackson