What is your specialty, what makes your work unique? Or place your artist's statement.

In her art, Moniek has an intimate, soft-spoken conversation without words. She enjoys to tell stories that touch and move through imagery. Using the sensible language of materials, she tries to find a layered way of expressing. In her multidisciplinary art she gives shape to the shapeless, converses on ambiguous matters and awes over mystical everyday structures. Fascinated by small, hidden and overlooked details; she creates from an observative perspective. Much like the crow up in the trees ambushed by the leaves. One that intertwines with the tree as a body of work; the work becomes an extension of herself. She gathers and processes through her chaotic, fragmental mind movies. To then put them together into something that resembles more a kind of visual poetry.

What are your ambitions? What do you want to be in five years?

I'm dreaming of so many things! I could write for hours on end about this.

First of all I would want to see my work put into context. This could be in a museum. As an exhibition location I'd love the Odapark in Venray. It is a museum located in the forest with artpieces scattered everywhere throughout! I just could really see my work there. Besides I would like to see it being published in the shape of an artbook or perhaps in a magazine. On top of that I'd like to continue pursuing art from my current fascinations and focus in personal projects. I for now really enjoy just conversing through imagery and even putting out prints as physical embodiments of those conversations. During my studies I got really into filmmaking as well, so maybe I would like to pursue things around that as well. On top of this more autonome approach of making work, I would like to do commissions that fit me as a maker. I could see myself doing a mural, bookcovers, editorials or albumcovers for example. Media that allows me to work around subjects that move me and let me translate the abstract into something figurative and approachable to touch others. Oh and an illustrated children's book perhaps!

On a different note, I truly fell in love with the craft of ceramics in Japan. I feel compelled continuing experimenting around this alluring craft. Perhaps even starting a small company around it?

In the end I would like to find a balance between applied, commission based work and my more personal and autonomous, free work. So I can fuel both desires simultaneously!
The practical work allows me to support myself, keeps me grounded and my more personal work is something that just truly drives me in life.
Five years... I wonder where I would be! But hopefully I would be surrounded by nature, a roof above my head and a dog, a cat, a kabutomushi, an axolotl or crow alongside me. Maybe I would even reside in Japan for a few years more? Time will tell, but I certainly am not short in dreams. Haha.

What is the most important thing you have learned during your studies?

Every choice and the way it's been put into imagery could tell something different. There is narrative in all the small details. This never fails to interest me.
At HKU I was given the fortunate opportunity to experiment with many different materials, learn new techniques and work in the various workspaces. Besides traditional illustration I was able to try ceramics, woodworking, filmmaking, screenprinting, analogue photography, animation, risoprinting, glasscutting, bookbinding and many more techniques. They all added to my repertoire to do visual storytelling. It allowed me to take the freedom and step outside of the lines of traditional illustration only. In return this allowed me to grow as an artist and reconsider art as a whole. I found that questioning and contemplating your work at all stages is fundamental in making layered work. But in turn it is crucial to let go of the mind whenever the time is there. To then just intuitively create and express yourself artistically. If you fluidly switch between these states, it can be magical.

Alongside of that I learned to value my fascinations and curiosity. These are what give me drive, they inspire me and endlessly nourish my work. I once started photographing dead birds, among other deceased animals, I stumbled upon during my walks. I didn't share them, it was just me and those quiet sceneries. Motivated from personal contemplation, fascination and appreciation. I started to write and draw around them. These small and private actions of fascination in the end turned out to be my starting point for my graduation project Lethe.

Also, outside of your comfortzone isn't as scary as it can seem. Almost anything is possible if you set your mind to it. This made me experience things I never thought I would. For example studying in Japan, manifesting an internship in Kyoto and doing an exhibition there. Sometimes my mind scares me in how big it can think. But taking a step back, cutting that process up into pieces makes that big thing actually very realistically approachable.

Finally, it is important to trust yourself and the process. In this field we sometimes are exposed to many different perspectives and are made very aware of that. It can be overwhelming. But in the end if you work from sincerity, the work will be sincere as well and that is all that matters.

List of publications / exhibitions / prices / concerts / shows etc.

De kunstlijn Haarlem (2018)
Boekenbar Utrecht (2018)
201 Hooghiemstra Utrecht (2019)
Room Dohjidai Gallery of Art Kyoto (2019)
Dialogue Hotel Kanra Kyoto (2020)
HKU Exposure Lou (2021)
Light-Up Collective (2021)

Where to find you? How to contact you?

PORTFOLIO WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

E-MAIL