| |
Hendrik Baartman
|
|
Biography
|
|
|
| |
|
Statement
|
|
Artist Statement
In science experiment is used to test theory, but what then is my theory? It is that art is close to science. You could simplify it by saying: physics is about physical forces, art is about mental forces. More generally there is something deeper going on in science and art. Einstein observed that a theory needs to be expressed elegantly. A beautiful equation is more powerful because it can be worked with more effectively. Its elegance gives it utility: Form follows Function was a founding principle of modernism and although we live in a post modern age, the lessons taught by modernists are still relevant, particularly when considered in the abstract. This is not about style or functionality, at issue is the underlying common nature of science and art.
The observation that art and science share a common purpose is not new, Leonardo DaVinci would have said much the same and even at the dawn of history Pythagoras declared that numbers were the underlying structure of everything. However this is not a matter of repackaging classical concepts in a contemporary context. Our understanding of the scientific method has undergone a paradigm shift within the last generation. Science is no longer perceived as seeking immutable truths, its method uses human imagination, searching for 'models', which explain and provide understanding. Scientific theories (or models) may not resemble art works but they are creations of the human mind and are subject of strong feelings within the scientific community. While orthodox theories are taught 'as if true', new theories always come along to upset the established truths in a way which mirrors the development of art. This insight has yet to be fully appreciated by the scientific community, let alone the World at large. It is important for artists to understand this, both out of intellectual curiosity and because it is directly relevant to the own creative process. We are all engaged in a common creative pursuit
Pythagoras conviction that the universe was made of numbers took its inspiration from music, but more than that, it was a mystical revelation, of which I shall have more to say shortly. The Greeks understood the principles of harmony and those principles remained unchanged until the arrival of the tempered scale which was a revolution as radical as Relativity overturning Classical Mechanics. In the 20th century composers have used mathematical methods for a new purpose. They used the formalities of maths to create a new kind of music which does not repeat: "generative music". The use by artists and musicians of science and mathematics is a step towards greater power. The purpose of science is to explain and provide understanding but science is much more than a dry process of reasoning, over and over again it has amazed us and transformed our lives. For art to throw more light on the human condition this will be achieved by a combination of passion and reason... although much of the reasoning may be hidden in the finished artwork. Our eyes, minds and hearts will be opened to the fullest by the new experience. The potential is there, we will be more than surprised by the results. Unpredictable, but I hazard the guess that the deepening fusion of art and science will not be artists in white lab coats, quite the contrary, we shall be moved from disbelief to be overwhelmed and astonished by the vision of the future that will unfold.
It is this sense of astonishment, wonder, magic which remains central to my continuing activities as an artist. I am a seeker in search of miracles. It is an abiding misunderstanding of our age that there is some kind of contradiction or battle between art and science, or science and religion. Far too many scientists have launched futile attacks on the magical and irrational, too many evil technologies have been developed from scientific discoveries. Too many people from what was once called the left, the libertarians, the dreamers, the idealists in search of a better World have denounced science. Don't be hasty in your judgment I ask. As artists and visionaries we must rise above such skirmishes, and recognize the power and potential in both the rational and magical. There has always been black and white in magic and so it is with science and technology. It is up to us through our own experience and understanding to discover the positive.
As children, we all have an intuitive understanding of this magical aspect to life. Children are also very good at asking questions. They are playful mystics and questioning scientists all at once. It is this child like quality I seek to encourage within myself and others. The sense of excitement is the fuel of imagination. Life can be like a beautiful beach where we all play. The sea shells we find as children are full of this energy. As artists our creations can absorb this energy from our enthusiasm and concentration on the act of creation. If we are lucky, they come to life, extra energy flows from an unknown source. It is then, when the work itself surprises us that we know that we are really onto something.
|
| |
|
Exhibitions
|
|
Hendrik Arie Baartman 1973-2006
1973
Gallery 111 Groningen Netherlands.
Gallery Columbus Groningen Netherlands.
Gallery 4th Dimension St.Niklaas Belgium.
Gallery Rheim Dusseldorf Germany.
Gallery Mangelgang Groningen Netherlands.
Gallery d?t contemporain Paris, France.
Gallery Geometrics, Turin, Italy.
1974
Museum of Zeeland Middelburg Netherlands.
Gallery The Meathall Middelburg Netherlands.
Art from Zeeland Rotterdam Netherlands.
Gallery Plan Knokke Belgium.
Gallery Muhlen Gutersloh Germany.
Gallery Min. of Planning Den Haag Netherlands.
Bree Art Gallery Middelburg Netherlands.
Gallery Diogenes, Bielefeld, Germany.
1975
Culture Center of Zeeland Middelburg Netherlands.
Gallery De Witte Voet Amsterdam Netherlands.
Gallery Plan with Vasarely Knokke Belgium.
Gallery Min. of Culture Den Haag Netherlands.
WorldArt Center BreeArt Middelburg Netherlands.
Traveling Exhibition Province of Zeeland Netherlands.
Gallery Culture center, Hasselt, Belgium.
1976
Fifth British International Print Biennale Bradford England.
International Print Biennale Krakow Polonia.
Townhall Hengelo Netherlands.
World exhibition of Drawings New York U.S.A
Townhall Gallery Emmeloord Netherlands.
Gallery Langhuis Zwolle Netherlands.
2nd international exhibition of prints, Krakow, Poland.
1977
Traveling Exhibition province of Overijssel Netherlands.
International Biennale of Drawings Cleveland England.
Townhall Gallery Noordoostpolder Netherlands.
Gallery Bree Art Center Middelburg Netherlands.
Gallery Govaerts Breda Netherlands.
Gallery Images dart, Cadiz, Spain.
1978
Exposition Grafischen Kabinett Lunen Germany.
Gallery Braiseworth Eye England.
Gallery Haddington Norwich England.
2nd world exhibition of mathematical art, Braiseworthgallery, Eye, England.
Gallery Cultural Center Deventer, Netherlands.
Gallery Angelica, Bari, Italy.
Gallery Geometric, Paris, France.
1979
Gallery Braiseworth House Eye England.
Gallery Norden Norden Germany.
Townhall Gallery Zutphen Netherlands.
Group exhibition Town hall Enschede, Netherlands.
Groupexibition Kinetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
1980
Westleton Art gallery Westleton England.
Gallery WorldArt Groningen Netherlands.
Gallery van Reekum Apeldoorn Netherlands.
Gallery am ufer, West Berlin, Germany.
1981
Exhibition De Ploeg Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition of Sculptures Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition of Drawings Veendam Netherlands
Gallery Bree Art Center, Bedum, Netherlands..
1982
Exhibition of Prints Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition 75 Years De Ploeg Groningen Netherlands.
Gallery Norden Norden Germany.
Exhibition Objects Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition of small drawings Eye England.
1983
Exhibition A-Kerk, Groningen, Netherlands.
Exhibition Drawings and Collage, Veendam, Netherlands.
Grafimathematiek, Bedum, Netherlands.
Drawings Miniature, Groningen, Netherlands.
Gallery space, Toronto, Canada.
1984
Objectenpark Sculptures, Stadskanaal, Netherlands.
Museum of Modern Art, Mons, Belgium.
Gallery Farmyard, Bedum, Netherlands.
Galeria Bonneaire, Madrid, Spain.
1985
Photo Exhibition Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition Geometric Art Drachten Netherlands
Gallery Artplace Hasselt Belgium.
Gallery Magellan, Laos, Nigeria.
1986
Grafimathematica Emmeloord Netherlands.
Photo Exhibition Oostburg Netherlands.
Museum Collection Groningen Netherlands.
GKK Art Groningen Netherlands.
Exhibition of Drawings Veendam Netherlands.
1988
Exhibition Drawings and Objects Emmeloord Netherlands.
Exhibition of Drawings Enkhuizen Netherlands.
Exhibition with Appel, Struyken, Citroen etc, Zwolle Netherlands.
Gallery Rudder, Groningen, Netherlands.
1989
Objects Park `Schokland' Noordoostpolder Netherlands.
Spring Salon Lelystad Netherlands.
Exhibition of KVF art society Almere-Lelystad Netherlands.
Exhibition of Objects Almere Netherlands.
Art Fair A-6 Biddinghuizen Netherlands.
Art manifestation Groningen Netherlands.
1990
Exhibition `The Time' Bussum Netherlands.
Educational Exhibition Biddinghuizen Netherlands.
Exhibition `Shelter' Bussum Netherlands.
1991
Collection Museum of Zeeland Middelburg Netherlands.
Exhibition Collection of the province of Zeeland Netherlands.
20 Years of `Grafimathematica' Biddinghuizen Netherlands.
Gallery Ziebirsky, Krakow, Poland.
1992
Exhibition `Grafimathematica' Dronten Netherlands.
Exhibition `Perception' Borne Netherlands.
Exhibition of Objects Bussum Netherlands.
Gallery Vogels, Cologne, Germany.
1993
Exhibition `Metamorphosis' Kampen Netherlands.
Art of Zwolle Vologda Russia.
Exhibition `Perception' Lelystad Netherlands.
Gallery Existence, Zwolle, Netherlands.
1994
Mondriaan Exhibition Den Haag Netherlands.
Mondriaan Expo Zwolle-Lekkerkerk-Lelystad Netherlands.
1995
Gallery Bax Sneek Netherlands.
Spring Salon Lelystad Netherlands.
1996
Unilever Building Gallery Rotterdam Netherlands.
Traveling Exhibition `To mad for Eye's' Netherlands.
1997
WMO Building Metamorphosis on year Zwolle Netherlands.
Educational Exhibition Deventer Netherlands.
WorldArt Center MidlandArt Center Zwolle Netherlands.
1998
Gallery peter Bax Sneek Netherlands.
Exhibition Broerenkerk Zwolle Netherlands.
International Exhibition World Art center.
Gallery Koert&Koert Elsloo Netherlands.
Exhibition Esilon factory Zevenaar Netherlands.
1999
WorldArt Center Exhibition.
International Exhibition WWW.
Galllery `Online Art".
2000
Collection Museum of Zwolle Netherlands.
Galeria DArte Zero Barcelona Spain.
Exhibition `Art for Art' Barcelona Spain.
Exhibition `Contrasts' Amsterdam Netherlands.
2001
Museum of Computer Art New York U.S.A.
Exhibition `New Works' Kampen Netherlands.
Gallery van Koert&Koert Elsloo Netherlands.
Exhibition Midland Art Center Zwolle Netherlands.
2002
Exhibition wacmac. from Holland
Moscow Art Fair Moscow Russia.
Exhibition `Metamorphosis'WorldArtCenter Netherlands.
Internet Exhibition Art Gallery Hamburg Germany
Gallery Mossworld Cadiz Spain
2003
Gallery Mosta Rojas Buenos Aires Argentina. (First Prize Winner Digital Art 2003)
Exhibition `Secret Postcards' Philadelphia U.S.A.
Bkk Exhibition Berlin, Germany.
Insight Gallery Norwich, England.
Fourth International Digital art Expo Havanna Cuba.
2th BKK Exhibition, Berlin, Germany.
5th International exhibition, "the four elements", Ferrara, Italy.
6th Internet Exhibition Wacmac Netherlands.
4th International Biennale, Florence, Italy.
2004
World exhibition Wacmac Digital Art. Zwolle. Netherlands.
Batik Art Group, "Dali's 100 Year Celebration", Barcelona, Spain.
Art Gallery Tedopres, Tilburg, Netherlands.
Gallery Saxman, Clearwater, USA.
Period Gallery, Spiritual 7 International Exhibition, Lincoln, USA
Gallery Mosta Rojas "on the Internet", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Art wanted gallery on the internet 2004.
2005
7th International Digital art exhibit, Havana, Cuba.
"Summer 2005", Barcelona, Spain. 17th June - 8th July.
Art Domain Gallery, Leipzig, Germany.
Timeless exhibit, Zwolle, Netherlands.
Touring exhibition "united art-against poverty", Germany.
Espacio de arte Madrid, expo 2005
Dronten Web 2005
Period Galler{, Internet exhibici?.
Absolute Arts on the Internet 2005.
Abs art gallery on the internet 2005.
Art Gallery Hamburg on the Internet 2005.
Grand Sterling Shopping mall gallery 2005.
2006
Touring exhibition "united art-against poverty", Germany.
Galerie Boehner, Mannheim, Germany. March 06 - Aug. 06
Muestra the International of Art - Venado Tuerto 2006 - ARGENTINA
"Ancient Palaces", Acquasparta 2006, Terni, Italy.
House of the rising star exhibition, Zwolle, Netherlands.
Gallery Mosta Rojas "on the Internet", Buenos Aires, Argentina
Grand Sterling Shopping mall gallery, USA 2006.
Absolute Arts on the Internet 2005.
7th Internet Exhibition Wacmac Netherlands.
Art Gallery Hamburg on the Internet 2006.
|
| |
|
