Netherlands
Sculpture
CV
Yasser Ballemans
Breda 1981, Nederland
Lives and works in Amsterdam, Nederland
Contact
Bakkumstraat 22
1024 VX Amsterdam
yballemans(at)gmail.com
0031 (0) 641 499 594
Atelier
Heining 149E
1047 AE Amsterdam
Opleiding / Education
2005-2007 Sandberg Instituut, MA Beeldende Kunst, Amsterdam (NL)
2005 Mr Miyagi Curators Master Class Showroom MAMA, Rotterdam (NL)
2001-2005 AKV | St. Joost Breda, BA Autonome Beeldende Kunst, Breda (NL)
Prijzen en nominaties / Awards and nominations
2010 Winnaar grote prijs van Biennale of Vallauris BICC, Vallauris (FR)
2010 Finalist stimulatieprijs CBK, Rotterdam/Middelburg (NL)
Beurzen / Grants
2017 Ontwikkelbudget AFK
2015 - 2018 Mondriaan Fonds: Werkbijdrage bewezen talent
2014 YIA Art Fair Parijs, Mondriaan Fonds: Bijdrage Kunstbeurs, Parijs (FR)
2013 Sundaymorning@EKWC, Mondriaan Fonds: Beurs Praktijkverdieping, Den Bosch (NL)
2012 Instituto Buena Bista, Mondriaan Fonds: Bijdrage werkperiode buitenlandatelier, Willemstad (AN)
2012 CBK Rotterdam: Beurs Onderzoek en Ontwikkeling, Rotterdam (NL)
2010 Beeld Hal Werk, Fonds BKVB: Flexibel Werkbudget, Amsterdam (NL)
Solo-exposities / Solo exhibitions
2016 Woodwose, Gallery Joey Ramone, Rotterdam (NL)
2016 Carnal Farewell, Park, Tilburg (NL)
2016 Vuurplaatssculptuur, TAAK, Amsterdam (NL)
2014 Weapens of Choice, Museum de Fundatie, Kasteel het Nijenhuis, Heino (NL)
met dank aan het Mondriaan Fonds en het EKWC
2014 The Next Parade, bij YIA Art Fair Parijs met Gallery Joey Ramone, Parijs (FR)
met dank aan het Mondriaan Fonds
2014 The Next Parade, Gallery Joey Ramone, Rotterdam (NL)
2013 The Next Parade, Copenhagen Ceramics, Kopenhagen (DK)
2013 Pek en Veere, kuS, Heerlen (NL)
2012 Carrus Navalis, Gallery Joey Ramone, Rotterdam (NL)
2011 Onomatopee, solo en publicatie, Eindhoven (NL)
Groepsexposities / Group exhibitions
2017 Weapons of Choice, Art Fair Amsterdam met Gallery Joey Ramone, Amsterdam (NL)
2017 Mijn sculptuur op straat, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (NL)
2016 Hollandaise, New Art Projectspace, Londen (GB)
2016 Life Science, Beelden in Leiden/LUMC, Leiden (NL)
2016 IBB All you can art, Kunsthal, Rotterdam (NL)
2016, Kersentuin, KunstRAI, Amsterdam (NL)
2016 Mijn sculptuur op straat, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (NL)
2015 MOM, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (NL)
2015 No Walls, Fenixloods, Rotterdam (NL)
2014 Wanderlust, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (NL)
2014 Festival FUSO, MNAC, Nationaal Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst Chiado, Lissabon (P)
2014 Tracking Traces: Milk and Fire, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam (NL)
in samenwerking met Maurice Meewisse, Daan Draait, Observatorium en de Urbanisten
2013 Terres: Copenhagen Ceramics Invites, Galerie Maria Lund, Young Curator Season, Palais de Tokyo, Parijs (FR)
2013 Route du Nord, Rotterdam (NL)
2013 Bosch Parade, ’s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
2013 Le Festival Oodaaq, Rennes (FR)
2013 FONLAND Festival, Coimbria (P)
2012 Beelden in Leiden, Leiden (NL)
2012 Attraction of the Opposites, Rotterdam (NL)
2012 Just Mad 3 Contemporary Art Fair, met Onomatopee, Madrid (ESP)
2012 Inside Out, i.s.m. Instituto Buena Bista, Capriles en KOP, Willemstad (AN)
2012 LEF, De Looierij, Dongen (NL)
2012 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Internationale Competitie, Yingge (RC)
2011 Openingsmanifestatie Kunstnacht Den Bosch, i.s.m. Kristine Hymøller, Den Bosch (NL)
2011 British Ceramics Biennial 2011, Stoke on Trent (GB)
2011 Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale 2011, International Competition (ROK)
2011 Terra-cotta, Primitive Future, Clayarch Gimhae Museum, Gimhae, (ROK)
2011 Landgoed Anningahof, Zwolle (NL)
2010 Beeld Hal Werk, Amsterdam (NL)
met dank aan het Mondriaan Fonds
2010 De Piramide van IJmuiden, RC de Ruimte, IJmuiden (NL)
2010 Plat Rotterdams, CBK Zeeland, Middelburg (NL)
2010 Biennale of Vallauris BICC, Vallauris (FR)
2010 Landgoed Anningahof, Zwolle (NL)
2010 Dead Darlings/Masterpiece, De Zwarte Ruyter, Rotterdam (NL)
2009 Post Punk Progression, KOP, Breda (NL)
2009 Quantumvis V, De Service Garage, Amsterdam (NL)
2008 Ontferm U, W139, Amsterdam (NL)
2008 Tomorrow is Humourless, SMBA, Amsterdam (NL)
2008 Mr Deeds Goes to Town, W139, Amsterdam (NL)
2007 DistrictQ, W139 Basement, Amsterdam (NL)
2006 Elevated World, CEAC, Xiamen (CN)
Werk in de openbare ruimte / Public Sculptures
2017 Boekboom, in opdracht van de gemeente Utrecht (NL)
2015 Helder, in opdracht van de Rijksgebouwendienst. Locatie: Binnentuin Openbaar Ministerie Arnhem (NL)
2014 De Vazen van Blokhoeve, in opdracht van de gemeente Nieuwegein, Middelhoeve, Nieuwegein (NL)
2014 Particles Caught Flip-Flopping in opdracht van Beelden in Leiden, Schuttersveld, Leiden (NL)
2014 Lantarens, tijdelijke installatie in opdracht van Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam (NL)
2014 Melk en Vuur, tijdelijke installatie in opdracht van het Nieuwe Instituut, Rottedam (NL)
2013 Triomphal Arch, in opdracht van Lowlands en Museum de Fundatie, Lowlands, Biddinghuizen / Kasteel het Nijehuis, Heino (NL)
2013 Monument voor de meisjes van Jamin, in opdracht van werkgroep ‘Jamin terug in Crooswijk’, Goudseplein, Rotterdam(NL)
2013 Labyrint, tijdelijke installatie, in opdracht van Route du Nord, Rotterdam (NL)
2010 Much more Matter than Antimatter, in opdracht van de gemeente Hoogeveen, Stephensonstraat, Hoogeveen (NL)
Residenties / Residencies
2014 European Ceramic Work Centre, ‘s Hertogenbosch (NL)
met dank aan het Mondriaan Fonds
2013 Danish Art Workshops, Kopenhagen (DK)
2012 Instituto Buena Bista, Willemstad (AN)
met dank aan het Mondriaan Fonds
2011 European Ceramic Work Centre, ‘s Hertogenbosch (NL)
Curator / Curator
2012 Kunstvlaai, Amsterdam (NL)
2012 Graduation Festival Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam (NL)
2012 Route du Nord, Rotterdam (NL)
2012 Op Zunne KOP, Breda (NL)
2010 Kunstvlaai – Art Pie, Amsterdam (NL)
2008 Outdoor projects Kunstvlaai – Art Pie, Amsterdam (NL)
2007-2009 Het Blauwe Huis, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Amsterdam (NL)
2007 Vamos a Ibiza, Groninger Museum te gast bij Arti et Amicitiea, Amsterdam (NL)
2005-2006 Spacequake Showroom MAMA, Rotterdam (NL)
Docent / Teaching
2017 Gastdocent Keramiek afdeling Rietveld Academie t.b.v. presentatie open dag.
2014 Gastdocent bachelor Autonome Beeldende Kunst AKV | St. Joost, Den Bosch (NL)
2012 Gastdocent Mediating bij Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam (NL)
2011 Gastdocent bachelor Autonome Beeldende Kunst AKV | St. Joost, Den Bosch (NL)
2009 Gastdocent bachelor Autonome Beeldende Kunst AKV | St. Joost, Breda (NL)
2008 Gastdocent bachelor Autonome Beeldende Kunst AKV | St. Joost, Den Bosch (NL)
2008 Gastdocent master Beeldende Kunst HKU, Utrecht (NL)
i.s.m. Het Blauwe Huis
Overige activiteiten / Additional Functions
2017 Pakhuis de Zwijger: Lezing over kunst in de openbare ruimte.
2012 De Appel Sunday School: lezing over kunst en carnaval i.s.m. David Bade, 23 september 2012, Amsterdam (NL)
2011-2014 Adviesraad TENT, Rotterdam (NL)
2010-heden Voorzitter film- en animatiestichting APVIS, Breda (NL)
2004 Co-founder Stichting KOP, Breda (NL)
Publicaties / Publications
2016 NRC, 18 januari, 'Yasser Ballemans maakt in Bredase kunstruimte Park kunst van Carnaval'
2014 De Volkskrant, 5 september, 'Wanderlust', Jeanne Prisser.
2013 Telegraaf, 16 augustus, ‘Kunstig Lowlands’
2011 Terra-Cotta, Clayarch Museum Gimhae, South Korea. ISBN 978-89-94335-04-9.
2011 Onomatopee 50.4 Nest#5 Manifestation, met teksten van Bart Rutten en Freek Lomme. ISBN 978-90-78454-60-1.
2011 International Competition, Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale 2011. ISBN 978-89-89748-88-5.
2010 Biennale Internationale. Creation Contemporaine et Ceramique, Vallauris. ISBN 978-2-7572-0382-8.
2010 De Volkskrant, 15 september, ‘Groot, sterk en stoer in de megahal.’ Marina de Vries.
2010 Dagblad van het Noorden, 17 september, ‘Hallucinerend kunstwerk op rotonde’.
2010 Illogically, pamflet/poster, i.s.m. Raw Color en Onomatopee.
In my work I’m looking for a natural form for art, within the contemporary societal, functional domain. I’m especially interested in rituals and celebrations, in particular carnival. My belief is that art is very well suited to deepen and enrich our ritual experience.
Artistic principles
A guided moment of catharsis, purification or criticism
In the course of history, for a long time art played a semi functional role. Artists made temples and stadiums, designed flags, clothes and attributes for rituals and made triumphal arches to celebrate a war victory. All these objects had a clear function within society. Nowadays art and the societal functional domain are separated. Art has become much more autonomous: people encounter it mostly when they are actively looking for it in galleries and museums. For our public space, everyday objects and celebrations, on the other hand, the practical perspective is dominating. I consider that a loss. Therefore I try to connect the critical and imaginative aspects of art in a contemporary manner to the functional domain.
Within this area of tension I’m particularly interested in celebrations and events. Contemporary celebrations are tending to become reduced to relaxing, fun and consuming, whereas traditionally celebrations often mark a transition or constitute a guided moment of catharsis, purification or criticism beyond the everyday order. They regularly contain elements that refer to the basic human passions, such as violence, sex, emotions and irrationality. Rituals and celebrations often are connected to local legends and traditions. I’m trying to find meaningful variations of these rituals in our globalized, secularized and commercialized world. My conviction is that art can deepen and enrich our contemporary rituals and celebrations.
Carnival’s revolutionary potential
Of all celebrations carnival has my special interest. Carnival is known for a combination of humor, irrationality and social criticism – a combination that has always been appealing to me and I am also looking for in my art work. To me, carnival and art are therefore naturally aligned.
Traditionally, carnival is a Dionysian fertility celebration, a period of intoxication and disobedience in which differences in classes disappear and taboos are addressed in a humorous way. It’s a celebration with a revolutionary potential, which is often hidden behind a veil of consumerism. My ambition is to see how artists can present works that are profound and obstinate within this popular setting to revitalize the critical element of carnival.
Wildman
While I was researching Dionysian ceremonies, I stumbled upon the Wildman: a pre-Christian mythic figure that appears all over Europe. The Wildman usually wears fantastic primitive, oversized costumes, consisting of hair, horns, trees, wood or cowbells. He is part of ceremonies that include singing, shouting, dancing and scaring people. The Wildman caught my attention because he represents the autonomous, rebellious, primitive force I’m looking for as a counterpart of rationality and consumerism.
Facades
With my art work I’m primarily striving for a strong, authentic visual language, but my ritual interest also has consequences for the types of forms I use. I’m very interested in the – often decorative – form language of traditional rituals, for instance in floats, triumphal arches, flags, trophies, ornaments and costumes. My sculptures often refer back to these forms in a playful and abstract way.
I’ve worked a lot with flat elements that function as facades and result in sculptures which are robust and powerful ‘fake volumes’. In my recent work I use more soft materials such as textile, leather and unbaked clay. These works also leave more space for imperfection, asymmetry and traces of the production process. This makes the sculptures more vulnerable and intuitive.
Autonomous work
Public rituals
In my work I’ve tried to integrate art and carnival in different ways. What is important is that the artwork contributes something to the carnival and the setting provides an extra meaning to the work. I’ve participated for instance in the Heerlen carnival in the Netherlands. In Willemstad, Curaçao I did a carnival project with art students and psychiatric patients. The work visualizes the tension between dissolving in the crowd and individual identity.
Alongside carnival I’ve participated in other events with works that are an attempt to create public rituals through art, for instance at the Bosch Parade and during the Kunstnacht Den Bosch. My contributions to these events typically show a combination of choreography and performance using costumes, attributes and sculptures. My Triumphal arch, which was part of the Lowlands festival for three consecutive years, can also be seen as an artistic ritualistic contribution to a major public event.
Public space
In the last few years I have made several public space works, for instance for the Dutch municipalities of Hoogeveen, Nieuwegein and Rotterdam. Mostly these works are big metal sculptures. They always contain elements of my abstract ritual form language. I also try to turn the sculptures into monuments with a semi functional role in their environment. My sculptures in Nieuwegein, for instance, function as vases for flowers and plants. One of the sculptures also is a meeting place with a small bench.
Playground
My autonomous work primary should speak for itself: it should be interesting, innovative art which has its own merits in a museum setting. However, my autonomous work is often related to rituals. On the one hand, I see my autonomous work also as a playground where I can experiment with the forms and images I use in a ritual setting. On the other hand, I sometimes bring ritual elements into the white cube. For instance, my images contain many references to carnival figures and parades and recently also the Wildman.
My autonomous work provides room to develop myself as an artist, without the limitations of public space. My work is frequently shown in museums, galleries and artist initiatives, such as Kasteel het Nijenhuis van Museum de Fundatie, galerie Joey Ramone en Onomatopee.
