Working on 'Forestial composition'
Roel van Timmeren has his roots in painting. Painting enables him to critically question the world around him and relate to the "global village" and our fully mediated, standardized society. Moreover he considers his drawings, sculptures, videos and site-specific installations a form of painting as well. Whatever medium he works with, Van Timmeren tries to open up an intermediate dimension where the magical things occur which have no place in the prevailing worldview.
Over a decade long Van Timmeren has worked in nearly monk-like circumstances on what he describes as 'insignificant images’, which means self-contained images with as little significance as possible and the highest possible content in form and colour, but since 2002 he has sought out collaboration with other artists, urban designers and scientists. In this way he could disrupt his own way of working, communicate with colleagues as well as the public and achieve a result that would transcend his individual perspective and generate discussion. With temporary interventions in public space, he has applied painterly principles in a narrative and audience-oriented way and shifted the emphasis from things that are overtly meaningful to something that is (almost) invisible yet anything but insignificant.
Back in the studio, Van Timmeren has been processing his 'fieldwork' of more than fifteen years in compositions that seem to fit in with geometric abstract art of the twentieth century. They have an architectural quality, and at the same time are reminiscent of scientific graphs or technological systems. But once again, this first impression distracts from what still concerns him: elude reality. In the twenty-first century escape routes to other dimensions are even harder to find than before.
Els Hoek
BIOGRAPHY:
Roel van Timmeren (1957, Amsterdam)
Education:
Amsterdam University of the Arts, 1979–1983
Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, 1983–1985
Professional Practice:
1986–present: autonomous work
2001–2012: collaborations within Indoor Land Art Program and SWAMPS
Collaborations:
2001–2014: The Indoor Land Art Program, coordination and production
2004–2012: SWAMPS (public space), coordination and production
SWAMPS aimed to explore and develop the potential of residual areas. Since 2008, the collective consisted of Floris van der Kleij (1964) and Roel van Timmeren.
Selected Projects:
2014 till now: studio France
2014: 'Arthur Cravan', exhibition concept for Boijmans van Beuningen in collaboration with B. van der Velden
2014: 'Textile Architecture', group exhibition Arcam, Amsterdam
2014: Group exhibition Ruigoord, Pataphysics
2014: 'I learned to keep still', contribution to Joanneke Meester calendar, W139; De Nederlandsche Bank, OBA
2014: Guest lectureship Vedute, Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam
2013: 'If Found', public space interventions, AIR Lichtenberg Studios, Berlin
2013: 'Golden’, group exhibition, Neues Problem Gallery, Berlin
2013: 'Paths to Paradise', group exhibition, Rijksmuseum Twente, Enschede
2013: 'Sign of the Tides', exhibition with Helmuth Dick, Five Myles Gallery, New York
2013: 'Willy-Bobo', public space performance, Manhattan, New York
2012: 'Het valt mee', site-specific installation, Amsterdam
2012: 'Across the Border', lecture, Architectural Center Makeblijde, Houten
2012: 'Als je me ziet', site-specific installation, Haarlemmermeer
2012: Development of a salt-tolerant garden at the Houthaven primary school in Amsterdam (architect: Marlies Rohmer)
2012: Development of a landmark with children and NMCH in the "testing grounds" for elephant grass near Schiphol
2011: 'Mobile Hedge Brigade', landscape intervention for Projectbureau Houthavens, Amsterdam
2011: 'Spritzturm', sculpture for 'Kunstwerke-werfen' intervention by Matthias Schamp, Bochum
2011: 'Golden', video installation, group show, Neues Problem, Berlin
2011: 'Brak', site-specific installation by SWAMPS at ARCAM, Amsterdam
2011: 'Corso', site-specific installation, Victorieplein, Amsterdam
2010: 'Opening', performance and video installation, Project Space Zoete Broodjes, Amsterdam
2010: 'The otherwise peaceful island', production of site-specific installation by Aldert Mantje, IJmuiden
2010: 'Love or Illusion', group exhibition Queeste, Arnhem
2010: 'Typ-exion', design for De Rien, Pataphysical brochure, Paris
2010: 'Bosse de Nage', illustration for new edition of Alfred Jarry's book — 'Exploits and Opinions of Dr. Faustroll, Pataphysician' (for De Centrifuge, Dutch Academy of Pataphysics quarterly)
2009: 'NieuweKadeNegen', site-specific installation, Queeste, Arnhem
2009: 'Android', site-specific installation, Kinkerbrug, Kinkerstraat, Amsterdam
2009: 'Siopé', video installation, Quantum Vis (group show), Service Garage, Amsterdam
2009: 'Dr. Faustroll', Quantum Vis (group show), RC de Ruimte, IJmuiden
2009: 'A-Venue', opening project, Coenplein
2009: Concept and design of booklet 'Nose Knows' for 'A-Venue' opening
2009: 'Siopé', presentation of spatial manuscript at Nai, Rotterdam for Vedute Foundation
2009: 'L'As' and 'Uitverkoren', illustrations for De Centrifuge, Pataphysical quarterly of the Dutch Academy of Pataphysics
2009: 'The Grounds', development of a 60-hectare autarkic zone in the Haarlemmermeer polder with students from Alterra, Wageningen University
2008: Collaboration with Alterra on 'WWW'; competition entry 'Sound of Silence' for Schiphol N.V.
2008: 'Skindance', site-specific installation, NH Tropen Hotel, Amsterdam
2008: 'Doctor Faustroll', illustration for De Centrifuge
2007: 'La Spazzatura', video installation, Amsterdam, HorseMoveProjectSpace
2007: Collaboration with Alterra (Wageningen University) on green concepts for Schiphol
2007: 'A-Venue', site-specific installation, Coenplein, Amsterdam (SWAMPS)
2007: 'Visions of Catherina', site-specific installation, Tongeren (Belgium), Artuatuca
2007: 'L’incident de Verre', Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (Belgium), Vit<A>rti
2007: 'Zaad', performance, Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren, Amersfoort Porn Festival
2006: 'The Mayer Files', film screening, Amsterdam, First Pataphysical Film Festival
2006: 'Bennie', performance, Museum van Loon, Amsterdam
2006: 'Brooke’s Soap', four publications in Viridis Candela / Collège de 'Pataphysique, Paris
2006: 'The Mayer Files Part II', Okkupation event, Berlin
2006: 'The Brunninger Award', Linhard Fashion House, Amsterdam
2005: 'This is not a Lamp (part 2)', Arti et Amicitiae, group exhibition 'Inventors, Makers and Movers', Amsterdam
2005: 'The Mayer Files Part I', Okkupation event, Berlin
2004: 'Is suicide genetic?', Stichting LYR, group exhibition 'North', Amsterdam
2004: Symposium, 'Okkupation', Berlin
2004: 'This is not a lamp', Pictura Dordrecht, group exhibition 'Scale 1:1'
2004: 'Indians', Pilot Gropiusstadt, performance/video, Berlin
2003: Workshop HKA, Arnhem
2003: 'This is not a lamp (part 1)', De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam
2003: 'Es hängt in der Luft', Hermannshof, Hannover, Germany
2002: 'Doo wat Du wullt, de Lut schnackt doch', Kunstverein Springhornhof, Neuenkirchen / Hamburg, Germany
2002: 'Five Jokes About Glass', Upstream, Hoorn
2002: 'The Glass House', Het Glazen Huis, Amsterdam
2001: 'Colza', Cloître d'Aubeterre, Aubeterre, France
2001: 'Stay', Winston Hotel, Amsterdam
2001: De Branderij, Antwerp, ILAP
2000: 'Dutch painters', Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto
1998: 'Paint', Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
1996: 'Artists from Lascaux', Galerie Kiem, Utrecht
1996: 'Home is where the heart is', Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
1995: 'Menu', KCB, Bergen
1995: 'Disappearance', Galerie De Praktijk, Amsterdam
1994: 'Every Man A King', KCB, Bergen
1993: 'R 6018', Centraal Museum, Utrecht
1992: 'Seven Sisters', Op Het Hemelrijken, Eindhoven
1992: Royal Grant, Royal Palace, Amsterdam
1991: 'Zoo', Artis, Den Bosch
1991: 'Groente', Oud-Amelisweerd, Utrecht
1990: 'Madonna del piano', Fattoria Bruciano, Sasso Pisano, Italy
1989: Galerie De Praktijk, Amsterdam
1987: Galerie Lascaux, Utrecht
2004: Founding of SWAMPS and launch of 'A-Venue' art project for unused overpass at Coenplein
Commissions:
2012: The Grounds (Schiphol), 'Als je me ziet' (Haarlemmermeer)
2011: Projectbureau Houthavens, 'Mobile Hedge Brigade', landscape intervention
2008: Alterra Wageningen, Schiphol competition 'Barrier of Silence'
2004: Stichting LYR, monument for Fokker memorial, Amsterdam North
2003: Hermannshof, outdoor installation, Hannover (Germany)
2002: Upstream, installation for 400-year VOC commemoration, Hoorn
2001: Design proposal (selected but not executed), Heerhugowaard
2001: Winston Hotel, installation 'Stay'
1994: Fattoria di Bruciano, Sasso Pisano (Italy)
1986: Concertgebouw fence, Amsterdam
Selected Publications:
2011: *Parool*, "Zeewier kweken in het IJ"
2011: *Parool*, "Tulpen uit Noordwijkerhout"
2009: *NRC Handelsblad*, Sandra Smets "Brugwachtmuziek"
2009: *NRC next*, spread "In Beeld"
2008: *De Volkskrant*, Wieteke van Zeil "Zacht ruisend zicht op het huishouden"
2007: *NRC next*, spread "In Beeld"
2006: *Kunstforum*, Matthias Rechelt, "Okkupation"
2000: *Canadian Art*, vol.17 no.2, *Fast Forward* (Canada)
2000: *Globe and Mail*, "Exquisitely wrought vulgarity", G.M. Dault (Canada)
1997: *De Volkskrant*, "Onalledaagse onderkomens", Wilma Suto
1997: *Het Parool*, "Huishoudelijke apparaten en kroonluchters"
1992: *Eindhovens Dagblad*, "Zwarte Madonna's"
1989: Prix de Rome catalogue
1987: Galerie Lascaux brochure
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