On the Van Schendelstraat in Groningen, you will find various studios and workshops in the wings of an old school building, including that of visual artist Maaike Knibbe (1988). It is comfortable and orderly, with a tarpaulin-shielded workplace in the corners, a wood workshop and a large work surface with sink. Knibbe graduated from Academie Minerva in 2013 and is currently working on new work at Het Resort, together with Philippe Wolthuis and Bart Nijstad.
"I try to be in my studio as much as possible, but the time I'm here varies quite a bit. Especially the past month, because I'm doing a residency with two others. That's why I have many appointments in between to view and discuss locations. days are therefore very fragmented lately. Sometimes you have a whole week that you can just work well, but everything is now very mixed up. For a really good work session I need at least four hours. I am naturally free chaotic and when I work in different locations I find that I have to keep my wits about it, something that could have been done in one day suddenly takes three days.
"This space is mainly set up for working with plaster, plastics and wood. It's an important place for me where I can work just fine. This is where I think of ideas, develop them and store them. If I'm honest it doesn't really matter what what is important is that there is simply as much available as possible, that the space is high and that you feel comfortable there. I work best when I start early in the morning and then don't go home too late at night. Making plans and crystallizing them go hand in hand with collecting images and ideas. Then you start and there are loose jigsaw puzzle pieces everywhere. suddenly coming together at the last moment, that's a super nice feeling I do work with a preconceived plan, but this gradually changes because I always react to steps taken Because I work in this way it's always a surprise what comes out It's important vo or me to hold on to the original intention, a kind of dot on the horizon, so that you don't stray too much into moments of doubt.
"As a sculptor and installation maker, I like to relate myself physically to a work. This arises from the need to shape my immediate environment. By placing recognizable materials in a different context, space is created for new ideas with which you go beyond the everyday. I also think it's important that you see that it was made by someone. With that I try to make a kind of bridge to the viewer. I make my work to be seen by others. To work only for myself would not be enough. I think it is a shame when viewers feel excluded by visual art, precisely because it has its origin in a shared world. It is a visual communication tool that opens a door to a new story. It allows a new reality and I think that's very nice."
The space in which an artist works is a place where people plod, plan and measure day in, day out. Where a creative product is created and where people think. In this series, visit Groningen artists at their workplace. What are they currently working on? What does their working day look like? And what do they do to relax?
Please note: this article has been translated using Google Translate