Bart Pols

Bart Pols (Arnhem, Netherlands 1992) 

The work of Bart Pols consists of drawings, collages, paintings, sculptures and performances. The creative process is an important part of his work in which craft, concept and research are intertwined with each other. Life is central to Bart, so, from an autobiographical starting point, he tries to translate his research into several what appear to be contradictions in life, into image. The contradictions that fascinate him in daily life are life and death, love and jealousy, comedy and tragedy, sexuality and power, concealing and showing everything; each serving as starting points for his work. He approaches these contradictions from an inquisitive attitude, questioning if they are indeed contradictions in the first place. This fascination can also be found in the use of different techniques and contrasting materials, such as wood, ceramics, plastics and textile, and ready-mades. He tries to bring these materials together into a coherent whole. Bart is also seeking a balance between craft and technical ability on the one hand, and a flirt with amateurism on the other. The role of the uneducated amateur, the bungler, gives freedom and may even be provocative in the intellectual ascending discourse of contemporary art. At the same time, technical ability can actually contribute to a certain artistic quality, and he believes that a proper balance between the two can make the audience look and relate physically to the work. 

The work often has humorous aspects, questioning the very definition of humor that alludes to the seemingly present joke behind which the deepest seriousness is concealed. The humor often serves as a coping device, so that painful subjects can be addressed. Lastly, according to Bart, humor can provide perspective and hope, thus providing counterbalance to subjects that are difficult to deal with.

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