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For the ninth consecutive year, the NN Art Award will be presented in 2025 to a promising artist showcasing their work at Art Rotterdam. This year’s nominees are Diana Scherer (andriesse eyck galerie), Marcos Kueh (Prospects section of the Mondriaan Fund, courtesy of Galerie Ron Mandos), Pris Roos (Mini Galerie) and Bodil Ouédraogo (Prospects section of the Mondriaan Fund). The work of the four nominees will be on view at Kunsthal Rotterdam from 15 March until 11 May 2025.
Diana Scherer is a pioneer in biotechnological art. Her work is a unique blend of botany, material research, textiles and sculpture, and is essentially a poetic exploration of the relationship between humans and nature — and the human desire to control the natural world. The balance between control and letting go plays a crucial role in her practice. Scherer is renowned for her innovative manipulation of intelligent root networks. In her studio, she creates artificial biotopes where roots are guided underground using templates. The delicate root structures that emerge from this process contain both natural patterns and human-designed motifs. By directing the growth of roots with light, soil and seeds, Scherer creates complex, textile-like structures that she uses for sculptures, installations, textile works and photography. The resulting works highlight the plant’s inherent dynamism and demonstrates how nature often finds its own unpredictable path, despite human intervention.
What sets Scherer’s work apart is her meticulous research process and the intensive collaborations she had in the past with scientists and biologists from institutions such as TU Delft and Radboud University. Her multidisciplinary approach, characterised by elements of science, nature, art, and design, enables her to render the hidden world of roots visible. This has resulted in groundbreaking techniques through which she transforms roots into ‘grown textiles’. Scherer analyses these roots at a microscopic level and she experimented with hundreds of plant species before selecting her favourites: oats, grass, wheat and maize. She likened the structure of grass roots to silk and compared the root system of daisies to wool. The artist is also fascinated by the artisanal nature of textiles and draws inspiration from traditional weaving techniques used by communities that are deeply connected to nature. Sustainability and idealism play a central role in her work.
Scherer’s practice reflects a deep fascination with what neurobiologists regard as the ‘intelligence center’ or the brain of plants. She explores ways to guide these natural growth processes, for instance by studying xylem vessels, the tissue responsible for water transport within plants. Her work reflects a fascination with hidden processes and hybrid forms, where microscopic botanical structures merge with human-made patterns — ranging from geometric principles found in nature to the imprints of bubble wrap and tire tracks. Scherer also integrates the impact of climate change on cellular tissues, incorporating elements such as burnt wood and mutated plant structures.
Scherer’s work embodies the human urge to control nature, while simultaneously raising questions about the ethical and ecological implications (and limits) of that control. In doing so, she invites us to reconsider what ‘natural’ truly means in the age of the Anthropocene.
Diana, could you tell us more about the work you are presenting at Art Rotterdam and in Kunsthal Rotterdam?
At Art Rotterdam, I am showcasing works from my ongoing project ‘Interwoven (Exercises in Root System Domestication)’ (2015–present). In the Intersection section of the fair, a monumental piece measuring 7 by 2.5 meters will be on display, suspended from the ceiling. This work, cultivated from seeds, grass and roots, was originally commissioned by Museum Kranenburgh for my solo exhibition ‘Farming Textiles’, which was presented there last year. Additionally, andriesse eyck galerie will exhibit a selection of my works at the fair.
For Kunsthal Rotterdam, I am preparing a more extensive exhibition featuring around ten larger and smaller works, some of which are intertwined with synthetic fabrics and nets, merging organic growth with human-made materials.
What are your plans for 2025?
In 2025, I will start a collaboration with the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg. Together, we will develop large-scale knitted fabrics and delicate, lace-like coloured nets, which I will then integrate with my root-woven textiles. While I have previously experimented with coloured fabrics, the limited availability of suitable materials has led me to produce them myself. This allows me to determine the colour, size and knitting patterns, while ensuring control over the sourcing of yarn, with the aim of working as sustainably as possible.
I will also be presenting my work in several exhibitions throughout the year. From 11 July, I will take part in ‘More than Human’ at the Design Museum in London. The SeMoCA (Seoul Museum of Craft Art) in South Korea has invited me to participate in ‘Matter Matters: Four Attitudes in the Digital Age’, an exhibition that explores how contemporary craft artists engage with materiality and technology in the digital age. My work will also be featured at the Hangzhou Triennale Fiber Art 2025 in China, while a selection will be on view in Mettingen as part of the Draaiflessen Collection. Finally, my work will be presented at the Fellbach Triennale in Germany.
How did you feel when you heard you were nominated for the NN Art Award?
I was truly surprised — it was completely unexpected. And, of course, absolutely delighted!
If you were to win the award, what project would you pursue immediately?
Winning the award would give me the freedom to focus more on research and experimentation. The further development of my current project requires both time and concentration. Additionally, I would expand my collaboration with the TextielLab of the TextielMuseum, as there are still so many possibilities to explore in combining these two forms of textiles. This year, colour research will also play a significant role in my practice.
Diana Scherer was born in 1971 in Lauingen, Bavaria (Germany) but has lived in the Netherlands for over 25 years. She initially studied fashion design in London but continued her studies at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. She has won several awards, including the prestigious New Material Award (Fellow) from Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. Scherer’s work has been exhibited at the Frankfurter Kunstverein, the TextielMuseum, Foam Amsterdam, Manifesta, Museum Kranenburgh, the MIT Museum in Boston, the Himalayas Museum in Shanghai, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and at the Biennale of Sydney. Currently, her work is on view at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen and Somerset House in London.
The winner of the NN Art Award 2025 will be announced on Friday 28 March at 20:00 in Kunsthal Rotterdam. During this celebratory evening, all exhibitions, including the NN Art Award exhibition, will be freely accessible to attending guests.
Written by Flor Linckens
Want to join a tour of the fair, led by a passionate art lover from Young Collectors Circle? You can on: Saturday 29 March and Sunday 30 March, starting times: 13.00 hours and 15:00 hours. Registration: at the Information Desk in the entrance area of the fair.
Young Collectors Circle opens up the art world to art lovers with collecting ambitions. Meet other starting collectors, get acquainted with all aspects of collecting and develop your own taste and style.
“What do we do with all those statues of controversial historical figures from the past?” Anne Wenzel asked herself. This dilemma was the starting point for her project House of Fools. During Art Rotterdam, from March 28 to March 30, 2025, at Ahoy Rotterdam, AKINCI Amsterdam will present the bust House of Fools (Johan Maurits) in Sculpture Park. Wenzel is fascinated by the way we interact with the monuments of our “heroes” from the past in the present day. Her House of Fools series is a response to the recent destruction of statues, in which statues of historical figures – due to their contentious pasts – are being pulled down from their pedestals. “With these sculptures, I show the splendour, glory, and majesty of power. With decay. From within, it seems like they have been eaten away or falling apart,” says Wenzel. The bust she made of Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen is not a tribute to this governor of the former Dutch colony in Brazil. Instead, Wenzel raises the question: what does this statue mean, as we no longer unconditionally regard Johan Maurits as a hero? In doing so, she offers an alternative to the eternal struggle between preserving and destroying monuments.
An absurd request at Art Rotterdam
“Do you want to box against me?” This question was posed to Wenzel by Deirdre Carasso, former director of the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, at Art Rotterdam 2019. Carasso was tasked with creating a connection between the museum and the city. A boxing match seemed to her a good way to build a bridge between art and engagement. “Why don’t you ask me to create an exhibition? I’m much better in doing that,” Wenzel wondered. She accepted the challenge on the condition that, if she won, she would receive artistic freedom in the museum. Wenzel won and, in response to this “absurd” request, she depicted the many aspects of power.
Contemporary iconoclasm
The largest room in the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam was dedicated to the House of Fools series, which consisted of dark gold-coloured ceramic busts. In addition to Johan Maurits, historical “heroes” such as Jan Pieterszoon Coen and Witte Corneliszoon de With were featured, all based on statues that had recently been destroyed, vandalised, or removed. The sculpture she made of De With was purchased by Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen last year. As a sculptor, Wenzel experiences “pain” when witnessing the contemporary destruction of statues. It’s not just the disappearance of statues from public spaces that affects her, but also the fact that the work of her colleagues is being erased. In 2017, the statue of Johan Maurits was removed from the entrance hall of the Mauritshuis. This was done silently, with the statue being unexpectedly moved to the depot. The removal of the statue was seen as a sign of disapproval of Johan Maurits’ alleged involvement in the slave trade. The Mauritshuis decided to present the controversial history surrounding Johan Maurits – namesake of the museum – elsewhere in the museum, but without the statue. The Mauritshuis’ decision aligns with a trend where more and more museums and public institutions seem to choose to remove statues of controversial heroes from the past. Although Wenzel acknowledges the necessity of critically examining our own past, she questions whether such contemporary iconoclasm is the right solution. As a result, she decided to make it her new project.
The tension between decay and grandeur
The bust of Johan Maurits is full of holes, from which a greenish glaze seems to drip. His face is also damaged: “It looks like it’s been bitten by a monster, while other parts appear to have been affected by fire,” says Wenzel. The pedestal of the bust is no longer fully intact, threatening to topple over at any moment. At the bottom of the pedestal we see ceramic tiles in which footprints are printed. The sculpture thus seems to reflect its own decay. By damaging the bust, the artist seeks to challenge his impeccable image. Wenzel makes us reflect on how we deal with the memory of this governor, as part of a system of exploitation and oppression. In doing so, she shows that there are alternative ways to engage with the past.
In addition to signs of decay, the grandeur of this controversial historical hero is also emphasized. Wenzel applied a mirrored gold glaze, simultaneously confronting the viewer with their own reflection. However, the artist encountered a problem when the statue did not achieve the golden effect as she intended. The glaze proved highly sensitive to temperature, so Wenzel had to experiment with different firing techniques. At 1080 degrees, the busts remained dull black, but when she heated the kiln further, a golden shine appeared. It was the finishing touch to this series of works. Wenzel shows us: monuments are built with love – even in their decay, they deserve honour and respect.
Written by Martine Bontjes
In the Main Section of the fair, the Borzo Gallery is presenting a homage to Jan Andriesse, the painter who wanted to create ‘shamelessly beautiful paintings’ and who was fascinated by the workings of light throughout his life. Averse to trends, Andriesse worked on his houseboat on the Amstel to create a body of work that was as idiosyncratic as it was consistent.
At the Borzo stand, three paintings from Andriesse’s estate are on display, alongside several Water Studies—ink drawings of light reflections on the Amstel—and new work by Andriesse’s friend and colleague Jurriaan Molenaar.
Until his death in 2021, Jan Andriesse was a key figure in Dutch painting. His best-known work is his series of rainbow paintings on large canvases, which he began on in 1994. The first rainbow was conceived for a conference room at the Council of State, but the commission was not granted. “I wondered what the most beautiful thing was that I could give the queen to look at. After months of consideration, I arrived at a rainbow. After all, what is more beautiful than a rainbow?” Despite the fact that the assignment did not go through, Andriesse decided to create the rainbow anyway, in a large format (350 x 567.5 cm). Since then, the work has been part of the collection of Museum De Pont.
With his rainbow paintings, Andriesse ventured into terra incognita. You would think there had been predecessors dedicated to painting the rainbow, but this was not the case: he was the only one. This discovery came with its own challenges, as all colours in a rainbow have the same lightness, but paint does not. To ensure the intensity of all colours was equally strong, Andriesse sometimes worked for months on end on a single painting. Every day, he would apply a new layer of acrylic paint mixed with marble powder. “If it took 200 days, that meant 200 layers. It sounds absurd, but it’s true,” Andriesse told NRC. These countless layers are not visible on the surface of his canvases, which are always smoothly polished, but only along the edges.
Partly due to the large size of the canvases—the rainbow at Museum Jan Cunen measures 190.5 x 300 cm—and the slow process, Andriesse’s legacy is not extensive. Gallery owner Paul van Rosmalen estimates that besides the Water Studies, only around ten paintings remain. Three of these are being offered at Art Rotterdam for the first time.
Andriesse’s background
Andriesse was born in 1950 in Jakarta. He spent his childhood in El Salvador before moving to the Netherlands. In 1968, he began studying at the Free Academy in The Hague and later, in the early 1970s, continued his studies at Ateliers ’63 in Haarlem. In the early 1970s, he moved to Canada and then illegally to New York, where he lived and worked for eight years. To make ends meet, he worked as a house painter in Manhattan office buildings. Reflecting in 2000, he called New York the place where he learned the most about the workings of paint and colour. “I saw the spatial effect of colour and how colour can have weight. I saw what a cold neutral white can do on a large surface and how warm white can be when mixed with pink, yellow or orange.”
On the Amstel
When he moved into his studio on a houseboat on the Amstel, he knew he had found all he needed in this place. Andriesse installed several skylights in the boat’s ceiling, allowing daylight to stream in unimpeded. This enabled Andriesse to study the interplay of paint, light and colour in detail.
The houseboat also offered views of the Weesperzijde. One evening, he saw the reflected light of the streetlamps converging at a point in the Amstel. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but consulted Marcel Minnaert’s The Nature of Light and Color in the Open Air (1937), which precisely described the phenomenon he had just witnessed. “Depending on the wind, the ripples carry the light. It is oxygen, it is space, it is change. It is continuous change. It lives; you could almost say light moves.”
Uninfluenced by trends
Jan Andriesse was a striking figure. A tall man with a sonorous voice, he preferred to dress in white. His ideas were equally as distinctive. He was a homo universalis in an era increasingly focused on specialisation. Like artists centuries ago, he made no distinction between art and science. In his view, there was as much beauty in theoretical physics as in a painting by Vermeer or Weissenbruch, two painters he admired.
He incorporated several geometric and mathematical principles into his work, such as Kepler’s Triangle and the Golden Ratio. About using the Golden Ratio, he said, “It’s a proportion that is useful for me because it naturally generates possibilities, almost outside of myself. The more my ego and neuroses are absent in my work, the better.”
Because of this absence in his work, gallery owner Paul van Rosmalen describes Andriesse’s work as introverted. Not everyone is receptive to the combination of calm and movement. You shouldn’t expect grand expressionist gestures in Andriesse’s work, but there is a sensual depth to his work. “I want to paint perfect stillness, a form of stasis as it were, without making you fall asleep, something that is still a pleasure to look at. I want to make my paintings shamelessly beautiful.”
The tribute to Jan Andriesse is accompanied by several paintings by Jurriaan Molenaar. Andriesse and Molenaar were good friends for many years. Gallery owner Van Rosmalen describes their friendship as a ‘steady and valuable artistic asset for both of them’.
Written by Wouter van den Eijkel
Courage, storytelling, and a profound connection to heritage define the work of Marcos Kueh (b. 1995), a Malaysian-born artist now partially based in the Netherlands. With an academic background in graphic design and in advertising, and a deeply personal journey through craft, Marcos’s woven billboards bridge ancient traditions and contemporary narratives. As a recipient of the Mondriaan Fonds grant in 2024, his installation at Art Rotterdam’s Prospects highlights the complexity of his practice; intertwining decolonisation, personal growth, and the often-overlooked sophistication of craft.
What ties your work together conceptually?
“My work is rooted in storytelling,” Marcos begins. “Growing up in postcolonial Malaysia shaped how I see the world. Decolonisation as a discourse can sometimes feel Eurocentric, as much of its academic framing emerged within European institutions. Yet the process itself was driven by the agency of colonised nations, whose voices are essential to understanding its complexities. As someone from a formerly colonised country, I find that the way we speak about decolonisation is inherently different. What language do we use to talk to ourselves, and how do we communicate our stories to others? Those questions lie at the heart of my practice.”
For Marcos, textiles serve as a bridge between past and present. “Before pen and paper, the ancestors of Borneo told stories through textiles. As a contemporary weaver, I see my work as an extension of that legacy, speculating on what stories I want to leave for my generation and the next.”
How did your journey into textiles begin?
“My background is in graphic design and advertising, but I’ve always been fascinated by local visual culture. Textiles, in particular, carry immense storytelling potential. Initially, I approached them purely academically, researching their history and cultural significance. I worried whether society – and especially my family – would accept me as a textile artist. In Borneo, textiles are often associated with the underprivileged, and pursuing them felt risky.”
The turning point came in the Netherlands, where he transitioned from studying textiles to physically working with them. At the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, he discovered a textile workshop and visited the TextielMuseum. “For the first time, I truly understood the craft’s complexity. Using the loom involves intricate problem-solving: calculating tension, designing patterns, even understanding chemical dyes. It shifted my perspective: people from the villages are far from primitive; their systems are incredibly sophisticated. That realisation changed how I see craft, but also myself. I stopped feeling like I had to apologise for where I come from.”
How does decolonisation influence your practice?
“When I first discussed decolonisation at school, I’d often break down crying,” Marcos admits. “The topic is academic, but for those of us who’ve lived through these systems, it’s deeply personal. That emotional weight influences not just how I speak about decolonisation, but how I present my work. It’s layered and invites different interpretations. Some people see beautiful textiles, others engage with the deeper stories.”
For Marcos, hospitality is another lens through which he explores decolonisation. “Being hospitable is a craft. How you treat someone, host someone, it’s a skill. In my work, I think about who I’m hosting in this conversation and how I use language to include them. Different cultures view the world and its stories differently, and I want my work to reflect that generosity.”
How do you balance traditional craft with contemporary concepts?
Marcos sees parallels between indigenous practices and modern systems like capitalism. “In traditional cultures, there’s a time for everything; for example stories of harvest, life, death. It’s similar to how campaigns work in advertising. You assess when a story needs to be told and how it can have the most impact. I often compare these practices in my work to show how they intersect.”
This duality is reflected in his installations, where textiles – his woven billboards – are often suspended from ceilings. “It’s like walking through a rainforest,” Marcos explains, “but instead of leaves and trees, you’re surrounded by woven advertisements. It’s a playful reimagining: what if Borneo, not New York, were the cultural epicentre of the world?”
Why do you often suspend your work above eye level?
“That’s such an interesting question. I’ve never thought about it before,” Marcos admits thoughtfully. “In many museums, artworks from colonised cultures are displayed at eye level or below, framed as curiosities rather than celebrated as cultural treasures. My decision to suspend my work might have been a subconscious response to that dynamic.”
Many of his installations culminate in a large woven poster suspended like a waterfall, inspired by Borneo mythology. “In the ancestral stories of Borneo, it is said that our ancestors descend to earth through waterfalls to visit the living,” Marcos shares. By asking people to look up, I’m inviting them to shift their perspective, to see these stories and their heritage with new respect.
How has the Mondriaan Fonds grant influenced you and your work?
“The grant gave me courage,” Marcos says. “In postcolonial countries, we’re taught to be cautious about resources, opportunities, about everything. This grant felt like approval to create freely. It’s emotional, too. Art isn’t just about resources; it’s about emotional readiness. When someone believes in you, it pushes you to do your best, not just for yourself, but for society.”
What will you be showing at Art Rotterdam?
“At Art Rotterdam’s Prospects, I’m presenting an installation originally created for Manifesta 15, where it was exhibited in a 17th-century church in Barcelona,” Marcos explains. “Growing up in a postcolonial country, I questioned whether my interest in Christianity was driven by faith or by the desire to align myself with Western ideals. The installation is a deeply personal reflection of that struggle. It’s a split work, divided down the middle, representing the constant internal negotiation of identity as a postcolonial subject: the tearing between acceptance and rejection, the feeling of being incomplete. Positioned in front of the church’s historic religious paintings, it also served as a confession to the Church: ‘With the faith you brought us, we still struggle.’”
Written by Emily van Driessen
During Art Rotterdam 2025, the NN Art Award will be presented for the ninth time. This prize celebrates talented artists who have graduated from a Dutch institution and are showcasing their work at the fair. The award not only offers recognition but also supports artists in developing and presenting their practice. The winner of the NN Art Award will be announced during the festive award ceremony in Kunsthal Rotterdam on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 20:00 hours; work by all nominees will be on display here until May 11.
A partnership with impact
Since 2017, Nationale-Nederlanden (part of NN Group) has partnered with Art Rotterdam, presenting an annual award to outstanding contemporary art talent with an innovative and authentic artistic voice. The selected works often address societal themes and demonstrate remarkable technical execution. The award is not limited to emerging talent but also recognises artists who are further along in their careers. With multidisciplinary selection criteria, all media types are eligible to be included in the NN Art Award.
A springboard for artists
The winner will receive €10.000, intended to further develop their practice and reach a wider audience. Also this year, the nominees will have the unique opportunity to exhibit their work at Kunsthal Rotterdam. The exhibition will run from 15 March to 11 May 2025. Last year, more than 110.000 people visited the exhibition. Also, all four nominees will be featured in an article on GalleryViewer.com. In addition, Nationale-Nederlanden purchases work from one or more of the nominees for its corporate collection.
Spotlight on talent and excellence in education
The NN Art Award underscores the exceptional quality of art education in the Netherlands. Artists from around the world are drawn to prestigious institutions such as the Rijksakademie, De Ateliers, the Jan van Eyck Academie and the Piet Zwart Institute.
Looking back on 2024
Last year’s award went to Peim van der Sloot, represented by Brinkman & Bergsma. Van der Sloot reflected: “Winning the NN Art Award in 2024 was a surprising and fantastic start to the year. It allowed me to deepen my practice by creating new work, which I was able to present on international stages, including an art fair in Los Angeles. I am incredibly grateful for these opportunities; it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my year. I also had the time to explore certain themes more deeply, such as my new series paying homage to pointillism. These works, inspired by light and nature in Amsterdam, will be on view in a solo exhibition at Huize Frankendael from February onwards. We will organise a special tour and dinner for GalleryViewer readers, and everyone is welcome to join.”
The jury and selection
Each year, a rotating jury of art professionals selects four nominees and ultimately chooses the winner. The jury combines various disciplines including art journalists, curators, museum directors, artists, collectors and the curator of the NN Art Collection.
This year’s jury consists of:
• Marianne Splint, Director of Kunsthal Rotterdam
• Peim van der Sloot, artist and winner of the NN Art Award 2024
• Nadine van den Bosch, curator, author, and co-founder and director of Young Collectors Circle
• Miluska van ’t Lam, Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar
• Maartje de Roy van Zuydewijn, curator of the NN Art Collection
Galleries who exhibit at the fair can nominate artists for the award. Additionally, the curator of the Prospects section of the Mondriaan Fund will also submit five proposals this year, selecting the most promising talent featured in the exhibition. The four nominees for the NN Art Award 2025 will be announced mid February.
Festive award ceremony at Kunsthal Rotterdam
The winner of the NN Art Award will be announced during the festive award ceremony in Kunsthal Rotterdam on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 20:00 CET. During this festive evening, all exhibitions, including the NN Art Award exhibition, can be viewed freely by the guests present.
About Nationale-Nederlanden
Nationale-Nederlanden (part of NN Group) is an international financial services provider with a long-standing tradition of supporting art and culture.
At Art Rotterdam, taking place from 28 to 30 March 2025 at Rotterdam Ahoy, Prats Nogueras Blanchard from Madrid and Barcelona will present the work of Mercedes Azpilicueta. Her work will be shown in the New Art Section, curated by Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu. Azpilicueta is fascinated by unheard voices and explores how art can contribute to rewriting history from a decolonial and feminist perspective. For Azpilicueta, history is anything but singular: she interweaves the stories of feminist icons, queer individuals, exiles and migrants — figures often overlooked in mainstream historiography — into complex and multidimensional installations. In doing so, she examines the subjectivity of language, history, narratives and objects, questioning their established meanings.
Azpilicueta’s multidisciplinary practice spans textiles, sculpture, video, sound, drawings and performance. Textiles hold a central place in Azpilicueta’s practice, where she seamlessly blends traditional techniques like embroidery and weaving with contemporary production methods. That way, she revalues traditional forms of female labour and overlooked knowledge while investigating the impact of power structures on personal narratives. Her Jacquard tapestries feature layered compositions of historical and contemporary imagery, text fragments and abstract forms. At times, she presents these tapestries as sculptures, blurring the boundaries between artistic disciplines.
Her approach is deeply rooted in research. Azpilicueta describes herself as a “dishonest researcher,” freely navigating between art history, popular culture, mythology, literature, protest cultures, street culture and personal memories. Azpilicueta also draws inspiration from speculative and fictional Latin American literature, in which alternative realities, future visions and magical realism play a key role. Baroque art, brought to Latin America through colonisation and merged with local traditions, also plays an essential role in her practice. Additionally, the artist is drawn to older forms of knowledge that has been primarily passed down through women, but has often been marginalised by the rise of religion, capitalism and modern medicine. Rather than pursuing a linear reconstruction, Azpilicueta engages in a process of recomposition, where historical facts, fiction, and personal memories seamlessly blend together. In this way, she brings together a wealth of voices, time periods and materials.
Recurring themes in her work include decolonialism, feminism and gender, diaspora and displacement, and the tension between the personal and the collective body. Her associative practice dismantles entrenched historical narratives, creating space for new perspectives. These perspectives are affective, emphasising emotion, bodily experiences and sensory perception as ways to understand and interpret the world. Azpilicueta acknowledges that human experiences are shaped not only by rational or intellectual processes but also by feelings such as empathy, longing, pain and connection. At the same time, her work offers a dissident perspective that challenges dominant views, structures and power dynamics. This form of resistance finds its roots in feminist, decolonial and queer theories, striving to carve out space for alternative narratives, identities and forms of knowledge that fall outside the established discourse. In her work, these two perspectives converge and Azpilicueta offers us alternative ways of understanding and experiencing history. Reflecting on her exhibition at the Fries Museum, the artist stated: “[I] approach history as something multiple, collective, and fluid — something that is never definite but is constantly being rewritten, retold, shared and even contested.
This approach is beautifully reflected in the tapestry “The Captive: Here’s a Heart for Every Fate”, that is part of the Van Abbemuseum collection. Inspired by the 19th-century retelling of the legend of Lucía Miranda by Argentine writer Eduarda Mansilla, the piece challenges the original colonial narrative. In the traditional myth, Lucía is portrayed as a passive ‘cautiva,’ a European woman captured by the local Argentine population in the 16th century and ultimately ‘rescued’ by the colonisers. Mansilla subverts this narrative by giving Lucía an active role, while allowing space for her feelings and desires. She highlights the solidarity Lucía builds with the women she lives with, exchanging knowledge and developing their own language. This perspective humanises the Argentine population, showcasing their strength and pursuit of independence without reducing Lucía to a victim. For this work, Azpilicueta drew inspiration from the intricate patterns of 19th-century costumes and corsets. Additionally, the work references a painting by Argentine artist Ángel Della Valle from the same period, but she deliberately reverses gender roles in some cases. Azpilicueta also reinterprets a painting by Uruguayan artist Juan Manuel Blanes, where the allegorical contrast between the ‘barbaric’ and the ‘civilised’ is visually explored. Azpilicueta raises critical questions about these constructed dichotomies and the colonial ideologies underlying them.
Azpilicueta’s research for other works extends to the construction of masculinity in colonial New Spain, the aesthetics of bondage culture. She also delves into the role of women in Baroque gardens, street slang and historical events such as the women-led ‘Potato Riots’ of 1917 in Amsterdam. Historical figures, such as the lieutenant nun Catalina de Erauso, who escaped a Basque convent disguised as a man in 1599 and pursued a military career in Spanish America, also serve as significant sources of inspiration in her work.
The artist describes the formation of her woven artworks as an open-ended choreography, with compositions continuously being adapted and refined — first on paper, then on the computer, and finally on a weaving loom. The final work often deviates from the original concept. In an interview with Voice Mag, she described working with Jacquard tapestries as “painting with threads,” using up to twelve colours of yarn to achieve a rich palette of 125 hues.
The materials Azpilicueta uses carry their own stories and histories. In her installations, she weaves textiles, ceramics, latex, leather and wax with objects that reference ‘female’ labour and subaltern knowledge — forms of knowledge that have long been marginalised, undervalued or suppressed within dominant power structures and institutions. Azpilicueta embraces techniques such as embroidery, sewing and quilting — traditionally associated with domestic and craft-based knowledge — and repositions them in a contemporary context. In doing so, she challenges institutional hierarchies and advocates for a renewed appreciation of these practices, which are at risk of being lost. By combining artisanal and industrial techniques, she explores how tradition and innovation can coexist and reinforce each other. Azpilicueta’s practice is characterised by collaborations with artisans, performers and researchers, with her textile works often produced in specialised studios such as the TextielLab in Tilburg.
Azpilicueta also draws inspiration from new materialist theories, which emphasise the active role of matter and materiality in shaping the world. In her work, this translates into a thoughtful engagement with materials and techniques that serve not merely as tools but as active, dynamic elements within her practice. This approach invites viewers to perceive materials not just as carriers of meaning but as mutable entities that influence our understanding of both past and present. Azpilicueta works with recycled and natural materials, which add an additional layer of meaning to her objects. These materials bear traces of their form and use, while also pointing to broader themes such as the circulation of resources and the transmission of knowledge — topics often closely intertwined with the exploitation of people and nature.
Azpilicueta’s presentation at Art Rotterdam includes the installation “La Fuerza Colectiva”, in which a theatrical table with sculptural elements interacts with both space and viewer. Surrounded by plaster hands, the table evokes associations with a spiritual or ceremonial gathering, such as séances or rituals centered around female bodies and shared experiences. The decorative motifs on the tabletop and the vase with an eye motif allude to rituals of female knowledge transmission and collective memory, drawing inspiration from the work of Amalia Domingo Soler, a 19th-century writer, activist and spiritist. These elements reappear in the large-scale Jacquard tapestry “Las Mesas Danzantes”, a dynamic visual collage featuring floating objects such as chairs and tables. The tapestry incorporates spiritual and abstract drawings and paintings that were created by Azpilicueta in her early 20s in Buenos Aires, adding a deeply personal layer to the work. It also references the pioneering 19th-century abstract artist Georgiana Houghton, whose exploration of abstraction actually predates Kandinsky — who is traditionally considered the ‘creator’ of abstract painting. Furthermore, abstraction and spiritism have been closely linked from their inception, for instance in the work of Hilma af Klint. It’s a connection that Azpilicueta explores through contrasting styles and techniques, merging historical prints with delicate hand-drawn and abstract shapes. The resulting work creates a temporary, almost dreamlike space in which the viewer moves between past and present, reality and fiction.
Mercedes Azpilicueta was born in 1981 in La Plata, Argentina, and has been living and working in the Netherlands for several years. She studied at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes in Buenos Aires and earned her Master’s degree at the Dutch Art Institute/ArtEZ in Arnhem. In 2015-2016, she was an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. Her work has been exhibited in institutions such as the Van Abbemuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Fries Museum, the Barbican Centre and Gasworks in London, IMMA in Dublin, the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires, CentroCentro in Madrid, Kunstverein Göttingen and during the Busan Biennale. In 2021, Azpilicueta was nominated for the Prix de Rome, and in 2017 she received the Pernod Ricard Fellowship.
The work of Mercedes Azpilicueta will be featured at Art Rotterdam in the New Art Section, presented by Prats Nogueras Blanchard from Madrid and Barcelona.
Written by Flor Linckens
With a new location in prospect -Ahoy Rotterdam- Art Rotterdam also welcomes a new main sponsor: DHB Bank. To introduce our new partner to the Rotterdam art scene, a city trip for DHB was planned last November 19, with visits to Kunstinstituut Melly, Brutus, Atelier Van Lieshout, Roof-A Gallery and Galerie Weisbard. Both Manuela and Pienk, VIP managers of Art Rotterdam, and Mustafa Beker, Head of Art Finance and Business Devolopment DHB Bank and MarCom team DHB Bank: Folkert Oosting and Martijn Blom were impressed by the hospitable receptions at the various locations, the interesting conversations and the diverse exhibition programs. It is clear that both Team Art Rotterdam and Team DHB are looking forward to the upcoming edition in Ahoy and the Art Rotterdam VIP program in the city.
Okan Balköse, CEO of DHB Bank, shares why the bank is the main sponsor: “As a bank with deep roots in the city, we are proud of our partnership for the 26th edition of Art Rotterdam at Ahoy. Our support reflects our belief in the importance of keeping art accessible to everyone. Contemporary art challenges us to see the future differently, just as savings opens the door to new possibilities and space to look ahead.”
DHB Bank is a Dutch savings bank where you can save online. Its headquarters have been located in Rotterdam for over 30 years.
Over the years, the city has become its home base, which is why DHB Bank is the proud main sponsor of Art Rotterdam.
During Art Rotterdam, for the first time in Rotterdam Ahoy, the 13th edition of Prospects will take place featuring the work of no fewer than 116 starting artists. The Mondriaan Fund organizes the Prospects exhibition annually to boost the visibility of starting artists. Its proximity to Art Rotterdam allows art professionals and collectors, as well as a wide range of art lovers, to become acquainted with the work of these promising artists.
”The new location at Rotterdam Ahoy presents exciting opportunities as we host the largest edition of Prospects to date. Selected on merit for their exceptional talent, this dynamic and eclectic group of artists spans recent graduates to seasoned participants in prominent international exhibitions. This 13th edition celebrates a wide range of perspectives, with works that delve into themes of identity, belonging, and our evolving relationship with nature and history, while also pushing the formal boundaries of contemporary media. It is a privilege to bring together such a diverse group, reflecting the richness of today’s art landscape in the Netherlands.”
At Art Rotterdam (28-30 March 2025 at Rotterdam Ahoy), Wouters Gallery from Brussels will showcase the work of Elen Braga in the New Art Section, curated by Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu. Braga’s art captivates viewers with its striking visual appeal, which can often be misleading at first glance: her works may initially appear playful and vibrant, yet a closer look tends to reveals a layered complexity, marked by sharp and critical reflection. In her practice, Braga weaves political themes, power dynamics and personal memories into compelling narratives.
Elen Braga is known for her multidisciplinary and conceptually rich approach, encompassing installation, sculpture, video, textile and performance. Her work delves into themes such as strength, power dynamics, ambition and resilience, blending personal experiences and local narratives with universal themes and current events. Drawing inspiration from mythology, mass culture, folklore, religion and cultural traditions from both Belgium and Brazil, Braga explores how these continue to shape our daily actions and beliefs. At times, she reinterprets historical events as acts of resistance against official narratives. The artist is particularly intrigued by the paradoxes and ambiguities that emerge in her work, always aiming to spark a dialogue.
Braga often draws on her own life and experiences — such as surviving a childhood bus accident — to create intimate connections between the personal and the political, or even the collective. Her work is usually deeply attuned to the context of the locations where it is displayed and is frequently presented in the public space.
The artist works with unconventional materials such as textiles (including hand-tufted tapestries), ceramics, metal, language and even her own body. For Braga, the process of creation is nearly as significant as the outcome: a ritual shaped by dedication, perseverance and self-imposed challenges. Physical exertion plays a vital role in that, as she frequently explores the physical and mental limits of her body and integrates these into her work. A notable example is her monumental tapestry “Elen ou Hubris” (2020), which measured 24 metres in length, weighed 200 kilograms and was displayed for just five hours at the triumphal arch of the Cinquantenaire in Brussels. Conceptually, the piece explored the tension between ambition and overconfidence (hubris), connecting mythological and biblical narratives with personal reflections on pride and discipline. The work took nearly two years to complete.
For an earlier artwork, “Tão quente que era que pouco mais era morte” (“So Hot That a Degree More Would Mean Death”) (2015), Braga travelled to Death Valley in the United States, where she performed with a structure of twelve aluminium plates, inscribed with her interpretations of passages from Dante’s Inferno. This performance underscored her ongoing fascination with the duality of human strength and fragility.
For a recent exhibition at Wouters Gallery, Braga explored the increasingly blurred boundaries between public and private spheres. Translating the concepts of a café and a love hotel into textile installations, she questioned the consumption of love in a digital age.
Elen Braga was born in 1984 in Maranhão, Brazil, into a family of very modest means. Her mother’s work with textiles profoundly influenced her understanding of how craft and identity can intersect in meaningful ways. Raised in a strict religious environment, Braga even gained a degree of recognition as a gospel singer in Brazil. As a child, she also participated in beauty pageants, an intriguing contrast to her religious upbringing, which discouraged overt displays of vanity. Although religion initially provided her with a sense of structure and security, Braga began questioning her beliefs as a teenager. Through art, she found a new way to make sense of the world and express herself. Her first experiments in performance art emerged from a desire to push boundaries — both physical and conceptual. The techniques she developed as a gospel singer later proved invaluable in her performances.
Since 2016, Braga has been based in Belgium. In 2018, she completed a post-master’s degree at a·pass (Advanced Performance and Scenography Studies) in Brussels. She has participated in several residency programmes, including MORPHO, Central Saint Martins and Buitenplaats Brienenoord. Her work was exhibited at institutions such as WIELS, M HKA and Centre Pompidou-Kanal in Brussels and was recently part of a group show at Mu.ZEE in Ostend. Until the end of January, her work will also be on view at CC Strombeek. In 2025, her first monograph will be published by MER Books.
The work of Elen Braga’s will be featured in the New Art Section at Art Rotterdam, presented by Wouters Gallery from Brussels.
Written by Flor Linckens
