Margot Berkman | Portfolio Categories Commissions

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November 3, 2016

De Dame en de Zwaan © Berkman en Janssens Gorinchem 2003

Measurements: 250 m x 6 m (including 650 m2 tiling)

Masterplan ‘Art in Tunnels’ commissioned by Project Organization Betuweroute, Prorail.

The artwork the ‘Lady with the Swan’ is inspired by the stories of the Knights of Brederode, rulers of Gorinchem. The enormously high viaduct, on the Grote Haarse Kade, is part of the ‘Art in Tunnels’ Master Plan for the Betuweroute Project Organization, in which Margot Berkman examined the crossings in urbanized areas.

In addition to the realization of 7 tunnels with art, artistduo Berkman and Janssens have given art lessons on how they make a design for a work of art for a specific location. Children and adults learned about the historical background of their living environment. The artwork consists of 650m2 of decorated tiles and concrete clinkers with black and white natural stone, 24 columns with decorative painting.

October 30, 2016

De Dames en de Muze ©Berkman en Janssens Bos en Lommer 2003

Measurements: 500 m2

A paradise beneath highway A10 in Amsterdam

The artwork ‘De Dames en de Muze’ by Berkman en Janssens connects two neighbourhoods in Amsterdam-West. In the pedestrian- and cyclist tunnel under highway A10, on the Leeuwendalersweg in Amsterdam, thousands of blue and golden sparrows surrounds fairytale bright green tile tableau. The paintings on the pillars of the tunnel were inspired by historical Amsterdam that also refers to Eastern cultures.

Berkman and Janssens gave art classes to children and women at various schools in the neighbourhood, about how they design and realize art for public area. Exhibitions of the results were organized at the Stadskantoor Amsterdam West and at the primary school at Leeuwendalersweg. De Bos en Lommerschool has received a large tile tableau from the artists.

October 30, 2016

Greetings from Delfshaven ©Berkman en Janssens 2001

Measurements: 600m2

Old architectural details from Rotterdam can be seen in the subway station.

Subway station Delfshaven was renovated in 2001 by the RET and fully decorated with artworks with delft-blue architectural motifs inspired by the historic buildings of Delfshaven in Rotterdam.

Artistduo Berkman and Janssens have given art classes at six schools in Delfshaven, about making designs for public area, the art history of decoration on buildings. They have designed a special ceramic tile that has been given to local residents and schools.

October 24, 2016

Under the Magnolia Tree 2013

Measurements: 20 m x 6 m

The magnolia tree provides eternal spring
The source of inspiration for this poetic sculpture are the stories from the old care center Huize Transwijk in Utrecht, the Netherlands, which used to stand on the spot of the new residential building. The sculpture gives the idea of recognition and memory, in the perspective of time. There used to be an old magnolia tree in the garden of Huize Transwijk.

Magnolias symbolize eternal spring, where time passes without any noticeable changes. Two hunting dogs are faithfully waiting for it. The symbol of the magnolia tree also represents the ongoing transition from old to new. From young to old.

In Utrecht and surroundings Margot Berkman is known for large art commissions in the public space she made with artist-duo Berkman en Janssens. Cycling you recognize her clear handwriting in the tunnels of the Berekuil with thousands of tiles with bears, in the decorated walls of the tunnel at the Rietveld House and the Archimedeslaan, in the bench in Leidsche Rijn that formed the farewell gift for former mayor Annie Brouwer-Korf. In 2012 she was solo commissioned for the monument to the throne, a king’s tree for King Willem Alexander, in the Máxima park.

October 24, 2016

The song of the Nightingales © Berkman en Janssens 2005

Measurements: 625 m2

Do you hear the nightingales singing?

The paddling pool in Park de Watertoren in the district of Zuilen in Utrecht has been prepared for the summer. The pumps are cleaned and the paint is inspected. The artwork ‘The Song of the Nightingales’, a floor painting, painted by artist duo Berkman and Janssens requires little maintenance.

October 23, 2016

Hortus Conclusus © Berkman en Janssens 2006 Bleiswijk bicycle tunnels

Nature transformed into fairy-tale landscape ‘Hortus Conclusus’
The artwork ‘Hortus Conclusus’ of Berkman en Janssens consists of four groups of white sculptures that are positioned in a gently sloping landscape. Access to this enchanting world is prevented in a playful but also robust way by the placement of two monumental corten-steel fences, each 38 meters long and 1.70 meters high.

Animal figures can also be seen as decoration of the fence; the birds and the surrounding flowers from the Rottemeren area are cut from 20 millimeters thick steel. Through these cut out parts of the fence the visitor can see the white animals such as the unicorn, the lion, the dog and the lamb. You can find the ‘Hortus Conclusus’ by using the bicycle and pedestrian tunnel, which was built along the banks of the Rotte.

The tunnels (110 m x 3,5 m) announce the central area from afar. Thousands of small birds, such as the little bitterns, nightingales and golden orioles , in the warm colors orange and yellow, accompany the passerby to the central area where the story of ‘The Lady and the Unicorn’ is told.

The fairytale artwork is located in the landscape on the banks of the Rotte below the A12 near Bleiswijk. Commissioned by Prorail and GZH (Groenservice Zuid-Holland) and in collaboration with Grontmij and Heijmans BV. The work of art ‘Hortus Conclusus’ decorates in a playful way two bicycle and pedestrian tunnels and the public area in between. The tunnels connect the north and south of the recreational area De Rottemeren.

October 23, 2016

Cave Canem 2010

In the countries around the Mediterranean Sea you often see decorated iron fences in front of the windows as burglary prevention.

Inspired by that application, Ron and Brigit Schreuders commissioned to make a window fence to embellish their front door in 2010. It was clear that their dog ‘Angel’ is the ‘guardian angel’, the protector and guardian of their home in Zandvoort. You can see Angel’s profile and the initials of the clients in the decorative fence.

In Rome and Pompeii you can see beautiful floor mosaics, which alert visitors to the dog’s vigilance: Cave Canem.

October 22, 2016

Measurements: 40 m x 4 m

The Golden Age in Amsterdam

The artist duo Berkman and Janssens were commissioned to decorate the entrance of the ProRail building on the Ruyterkade in Amsterdam to make it recognizable. ‘We have researched the history of this place, the function of the former river IJ and the art treasures that came ashore in 16th and 17th century. Objects of silver, gold and ceramics from all over the world to Amsterdam. Forms of great decorative beauty. That was the starting point for the design,’ said Berkman. ‘De Moor, de Dame en haar Hondje (The Moor, the Lady and her Dog)’ is lit from the floor at night. In addition to an increase in the sense of social security, this also creates a fairytale appearance.

Artworks by Margot Berkman are often located at places where people go through, pass and continue. The artworks create space, ‘as if you were looking through a peephole and coming up with your own story, the idea of a different world, a fairytale world.’

October 22, 2016

Three art commissions from IKEA for the Concept Center.

The source of inspiration for this fireplace are old tiled stoves from Sweden, the delft blue tulip vases and ‘De Liefdesbrief’ from Berkman en Janssens at the Delft A13 exit.

The painting ‘The Love letter‘ by Johannes Vermeer and the tapestry series La dame et la Licorne were the inspiration for the artwork ‘de Liefdesbrief’ near the A13 at the Delft exit. The perspective in Vermeer’s paintings and the warm color red, which stands for love, can be found in the red-white pillars under the viaduct. The animals are inspired by 17th-century Delft blue animal tiles and the six-part tapestry series La Dame et la Licorne (Musée de Cluny, Paris), where a woman surrounded by animals is depicted in an enclosed garden (paradise).

The artwork was unveiled on 20 September 2007 by Lian Merkx, alderman of the city of Delft, Anders Westney, CEO of IKEA, and Folkert Post, chief engineer-director Rijkswaterstaat Zuid-Holland.

For the exhibition at Museum Lambert van Meerten, Museum Prinsenhof and the realization of the artwork for IKEA Delft, miniatures are produced in a small edition.

September 13, 2016

Sealight IV in Ensemble Vishal 2018

Measurements: 3 m x 3 m

‘Bien étonnés de se trouver Ensemble’

The artworks of 25 artists is brought together by director Annette de Vries.