Margot Berkman | Portfolio Categories Sculptures

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November 4, 2016

Amor en Fortuna © Berkman en Janssens 2010 Vianen bicycle tunnel

Measurements: 90 m x 3,5 m

Amor Fati – Love for the destiny

This fairytale like bicycle tunnel with still-lives of white elephants and monkeys and golden four-leaf clovers adorns the public area of Vianen. Six large still lives of steel sculptures have been installed in the tunnel.

The source of inspiration of the artist duo Berkman en Janssens is derived the history of Vianen. In the Middle Ages Vianen was a Freecity. Many people in search for better opportunities and looking for happiness moved towards Vianen. When travelers walked into the city, they often had great stories about traveling through foreign countries with exotic habits and wondrous animals such as tigers and elephants. Some elephants carried tiny houses on their backs. The elephant became the symbol of travel and luck.

From the research preceding the final design is the following text: Amor Fati is a Latin expression meaning “love for the destiny”, the loving of the inevitable and is best known from the work of Friedrich Nietzsche .

In German:

“Liebe das, was nothwendig ist” – amor fati dies wäre meine Moral, thue ihm alles Gute an und hebe es über seine schreckliche Herkunft hinauf zu dir.”

In Die fröhliche Wissenschaft: “Ich will immer mehr lernen, das Nothwendige an den Dingen als das Schöne sehen: – so werde ich Einer von Denen sein, welche die Dinge schön machen. Amor fati: das sei von nun an meine Liebe! Ich will keinen Krieg gegen das Hässliche führen. Ich will nicht anklagen, ich will nicht einmal die Ankläger anklagen. Wegsehen sei meine einzige Verneinung! Und, Alles in Allem und Grossen; ich will irgendwann einmal Nur noch ein Ja-Sagender sein.”

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 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 23, 2016

Seaweed I 2013

Afmeting: 1,5 m x 1,5 m

Ik pluk bloemen op het strand (catch of the day)

De serie zeewierkleden is gebaseerd op vondsten en tekeningen van mijn dagelijkse wandelingen langs het strand.

October 23, 2016

Seaweed weaving 2014

Measurements: 0,5 m tot 1,5 m

I am picking flowers on the beach, my catch of the day..

‘Sea-weed weaving’ is a continuous research on form, color, texture and material, which started in 2011. My source of inspiration is seaweed which I find along the beach. I experiment with threads that are made out of algae and glow in the dark. This artwork was realized in collaboration with the Textiellab Tilburg.

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 22, 2016

De Moor, de Dame en haar Hondje © Berkman en Janssens 2005 Amsterdam

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.

November 5, 2015

The Kings’ Fence around the Kings Tree 2011-2019

Secret assignment for the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander in 2013

In honor of this, a King’s Tree was planted in each of the 408 Dutch communities. This was an initiative of the foundation:‘Nationale Boomfeestdag’ and the ‘Oranjebond’. Margot Berkman was given the secret assignment to design and realize a finely decorated fence for the Royal Family in 2011.

King Willem-Alexander planted on April 23, 2013 in the presence of mayor J.J. van Aartsen the first Royal tree in the Transvaal district park in The Hague. He was assisted by a number of children from group 6 of the Comenius school in that district.

For information:

info@margotberkman.nl