Public Republic

Mariana Velichkova’s interview with the sculptor Mariska Zevenbergen

When and how did you realize that art was going to be your vocation?

There are two clear moments in my youth that I realized art is my vocation: at the age of four; an artist came into our class to make large paintings with us my heart became so warm and at the age of fifteen; I was to choose my study and with all my heart I said Art school!

Shellhorn

Spiral-II-Armadillo I

As a teenager I was always making drawings, paintings and poetry. I did this for years and I was exploring the work of other artists. When I started my studies at the Art Academy I first had chosen textile-design. Because of changes in the academy-program I became a sculptor.


Ammonite-Harp-and-Horn

What are the main influences on your development as an artist?

When I was a child I liked to draw and paint and the few times that there was clay I was very excited. Also I felt really ‘green’, asking myself what to do and why; I wanted to know how artists created and what they felt. I remember clearly: I was 12 years of age and in the library (I loved to read) I suddenly saw art books (on the youth-department). My eye felt on a painting of Paul Klee: I took the book and borrowed it for a long time. This was intriguing for me and also borrowed books of Chagall and Picasso.

Snake-Dragon

Spiral-II-Armadillo-II

As a fifteen year old I went to the (Van Abbe) museum because I wanted to see a real Picasso and a real Dali. When I got there the first thing that happened was: I was standing in an installation of Eva Hesse. I was so moved by this work: kept crossing it, loved the wind moving the textiles hanging from the ceiling. This post-modern art experience is still with me today. Such a beautiful way of saying and feeling: art!

Ammonite-Waterhorna

When I was twenty-one I made my first studio: a place to create my art. I also got interested in photography. I made collages and my uncle showed me the work of the Dadaists. This really inspired me and I started to buy books of the Surrealists and Art History. Also bought a camera and started to make photographs in black and white.

Spiral I

At the age of twenty-eight I was finally going to the Art Academy and a couple of teachers there really supported me and my artwork. During my study I met Steve Hubback: he is a sculptor and musician: he is also very supporting. After I graduated I traveled to Wales and England, Norway and France. Being abroad is always a good influence.

Celtic-Wheel

Who are your favorite sculptors?

These are Brancussi, Boccioni, Picasso, Gonzalez, Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Switters, Laslo Moholy Nagy, Naum Gabo, David Smith, Jean Tinguely, Kenneth Snelson, Guiseppe Penone, Mario Merz, Eva Hesse, Rebecca Horn and Richard Serra.

Spiral-II-Armadillo-I

What are the greatest challenges for the artists in the modern world?

To be innovative. Many people say that everything is created: all is done. Artist shouldn’t believe this and try to create new design, art, poetry and music. We shouldn’t call it postmodern because it refers to the modern art. Other matter is: are we exactly living in a modern world? The power of religion today is telling us that we are still in the Middle Ages. I really do believe in democracy: in most parts of the world there is no democracy, even in the Western world democracy is still not complete. So everyone including artists are responsible to create a modern world.

Deerhorn

Spiral-II-Shell-Bridge

If you are to use art to stand for a particular cause what would it be?

My art would stand for the environment, for Nature. Saving the planet!

I’m so angry about the fact that people and governments didn’t do anything the last thirty years to save nature. Last week there was a survey on the internet about doing things for the environment: I could answer all items with yes I’m doing this: hopefully more people can and will say yes I’m doing good for nature.

Deershorn

How does art reward, inspire and teach you?

I really could not imagine my life without art; art is my bloodstream, my fire within. Creating art is always rewarding and new inspiration for work to come. When I visit the theater and art-exhibitions it always makes me feel enlightened.

Spiral-III-Ammonite-Horn

It is quite hard to teach art to people: I work in a ceramic studio where we give lessons to children and adults, most of them are thinking in a practical way: plagiarism is very normal for people: they want to make and see what they know. Art, especially (post)modern art is too complicated to understand for the mass. Therefore it is fortunate that art creating is for artists!

Fenix

Do you consider people’s response to your art?

Sure, when people visit my studio or an exhibition of my work I’m interested in their opinion, questions and remarks. Art is an interactive phenomenon. Especially my installations are interactive and for me the way people see and move is very important.

I also make objects on demand for people: then the view of the buyer is the basis for the object.

Tuinproject

Goathorn

Please share with us some unforgettable moments in your art life.

In 2006 I was installing my exhibition; we worked hard and put up three mirrors to create more space and a looking-glass. The next day the opening would be in the afternoon. That morning the gallery-assistant called to tell me that one of the mirrors had fallen down. I rushed to the gallery and all the sculptures were still standing. The mirror had taken the shape of the sculptures, unbelievable.

Horn-with-spikes

In 2005 I created my first hanging sculpture and the most exciting moment was to hang the sculpture and see it complete for the first time. I was so excited and proud that I was to be seen my hanging sculpture for more than an hour (also to be sure that it wouldn’t fall of the ceiling).

Every time somebody says: “Mariska, your work is so beautiful!”, it is an unforgettable moment in my art life.

Thank you very much for answering my questions and sharing your art with us! Good luck with your artistic projects!

Sculpture installation

Untitled

Biography:

Mariska Zevenbergen is a sculptor from Holland. She lives and works in Eindhoven and she started Mariska Créations 5 years ago. She studied art at the Academy and got her bachelor of Fine Arts&Design in 2004. Her wish of being an artist, as she had as a child, came true.

The first years were very hard; working as a professional artist is still hard but she is more used to it now. Money is always the problem or otherwise with a job next to it: time is the problem. The most important thing is the creation of art for her.

She creates mostly three-dimensional: sculptures, installations, pottery and ceramic music instruments. She is influenced by shapes of the sea, the trees and the birds, by architectural constructions and by Chinese, Celtic end Greek forms. This natural and cultural inspiration made her create the spiral (form) into sculptures, Ammonite and Celtic like horns and dragon- and labyrinth- installations inspire her in her pottery.

She sees herself as an innovative artist. Always searching for another way to form, shape and tell. People who see her work are mostly impressed and love what she is creating. It was her greatest fear before she started at the Academy: that people wouldn’t like her work. At the Academy you are one of many and this drive to want to be seen, really helps.

When she was a child she would like to draw and paint and the few times that there was clay she was very excited. Also felt really ‘green’, asking herself what to do and why and wanted to know how artist created and felt. She remembers clearly: She was 12 years of age and in the library (she loved to read) she suddenly saw art books (on the youth-department). Her eye fell on a painting of Paul Klee: She took the book and borrowed it for a long time. This was intriguing for her and also borrowed books of Chagall and Picasso.

As a fifteen year old she went to the (Van Abbe) museum because she wanted to see a real Picasso and a real Dali. When she got there the first thing that happened was: she was standing in an installation of Eva Hesse . She was so moved by this work: she kept crossing it, she loved the wind moving the textiles hanging from the ceiling. This post-modern art experience is still with her today. Such a beautiful way of saying and feeling: art!