About
We live in a period of rapid transition, in a time where people are seriously thinking about living on mars, in a computer game, or in a matrix, and in which we can give a computer a burn-out by means of artificial intelligence. As an artist working with 3d sculptures and photography I try to translate these developments in works that deal with this theme and underlying questions.
I wonder what role nature will play and what changes can, and will, take place within nature and what forms this nature might take on. Nature seems to be opposite of technology, the rapidly changing technology versus the slowly evolving nature. Nature that plays an important role in our shared history through the great stories and fairy tales, through our dependence and our struggle to control it.
But could we really go to mars or live in a game, where no trees or bushes grow, and no birds fly, where the evidence of a river of centuries old must be read from lines on a picture, but where no water actually flows. Will we not long for the image of trees, animals and plants? Just like the city people in the city’s longs for a park and trees in the street. This nature is not necessary for survival but is necessary for a livable environment. And how will we then shape this 'artificial' nature?
Artworks
Curriculum Vitae
Stijn Elshuis (1991) / artist website
Education
2013-2016
Art, Sint Lucas, Antwerpen
2012-2013
Painting, Koninklijke Academie voor schone kunsten, Antwerpen
2011-2012
Product design, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, Utrecht
Exhibitions
2025
Beyond these walls, AkzoNobel Artfoundation, Amsterdam
2024
When Venus met the Moon, Casa Lu, Mexico-City
This!, Dead darlings collective, PAKT, Amsterdam
Unbound (at Unseen), Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
Six inbetween days - solo exhibition, R.S.O.L, Deventer
Nouvelle Frontiere (Unbound x Foam), Atelier Néerlandais, Paris
2023
TAK Artspace, Speult
Unbound (part of Unseen) with Gallery Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam
2022
The ministry of Ceramic Affairs, Gallery Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam
No Walls, Rotterdam Contemporary, Rotterdam
UNSEEN, Gallery Vriend van Bavink, Westergas, Amsterdam
big art, Bijlmer Bajes, Amsterdam
2021
This Artfair, kromhouthal, Amsterdam
2020
Fresh eyes photo fair, Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam
2019
Two Thousand and Twenty-Four, Vensterbank, Leiden
Wonderland, Kasteeltuin Assumburg, Heemskerk (with: Laurence Aërgerter, Danielle van Ark, Sêma Bekirovic, Wout Berger, Noor Damen, Desirée Dolron, Driessens & Verstappen, Carla Ellens, Eva-Fiore Kovakovsky, Andre van Noord, Eric Tourneret, Marisca Voskamp, Daimon Xanthopoulos).
Men zegt dat de zon een ster is - solo exhibition, Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam
2018
This artfair, beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
Opening, ATTIC 61, Amsterdam (with: Wouter Paijmans, Evi Vingerling, Folke Janssen, Rutger de Vries)
2017
The Isle of Data, Museum Belfort, Sluis (SOLO)
(Re)inventing Nature (FOTODOK), Casco, Utrecht (with: Leo Erken & Frieda Gustavs (NL), Yves Gellie (FR), Stijn Elshuis (NL), Floris Kaayk (NL), Sjoerd Knibbeler (NL), Diana Scherer (NL), Drew Nikonowicz (VS), Reiner Riedler (AT), Daniel Stier (DE), Mark Tribe (VS) en Universal Assembly Unit (UK)).
MAAKBAAR - duo exhibition, SBK galerie 48, Breda
2016
This Art Fair, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
Braakland, FotoMuseum (FOMU), Antwerpen
FlashBack (graduation show), Campus Congres, Antwerpen
DRIFT, Felix Meritus, Amsterdam
Eerste Persing, oude Beurs, Antwerpen
2015
Bridging the Island, Showroom. Antwerpen
Atelier 46, Atelier 46, Antwerpen
Public Art
Project Forest (two installations) - City of Amsterdam
Company Collections:
Akzo Nobel
Nationale Nederlanden
Delta Lloyd
Publications/interviews:
2019
Palet Magazine (aug-sep), Het grote onbekende
2018
Mister Motley, Men zegt dat de zon een ster is (Salon),http:// www.mistermotley.nl/salon/stijn-elshuis- men-zegt-dat-de-zon-een-ster 2018-AmsterdamKrant
2017
PF Magazine nr. 4, Leven in een kunstmatige wereld
De Stem Breda
2016
website FoMu, Braakland, http://braakland-fomu.be/PORTFOLIODAYS/ artists/stijnelshuis.php?lang=nl
MisterMotley, (art and everyday life) http://www.mistermotley.nl/art-everyday-life/stijn-elshuis-sint-lucas-academie-antwerpen