The Amsterdam based artist couple Driessens & Verstappen (Erwin Driessens and Maria Verstappen) have worked together since 1990. After their study at the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and the Rijksakademie Amsterdam, they jointly developed a multifaceted oeuvre of software, machines and objects. Their research focuses on the possibilities that physical, biological and computer algorithms can offer for the development of image generating processes. They strive for an art in which spontaneous phenomena are generated systematically. Art that is not entirely determined by the subjective choices of a human being, but instead, is created by autonomously operating processes. A major source of inspiration are the self-organising processes in nature, especially the decentralised processes, the bottom-up processes, have their attention. In addition to working with natural processes, they use the computer to program digital processes that generate fictional worlds.
Driessens & Verstappen participated in numerous exhibitions a.o. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam, Centre Pompidou Paris, Garage Museum Moscow, IVAM Institute Valencia, Museum Kröller-Müller Arnhem, Neue Pinakothek München, Les Abattoirs Toulouse, Eyebeam New York, Science Gallery Dublin, Caixa Forum Barcelona, MetaMorph Trondheim. The couple gives lectures and presentations at universities, art academies, festivals and conferences, a.o. Siggraph Los Angeles, Sonic Acts Amsterdam, Second Iteration Melbourne. In 1999 and 2001 their Tickle robot projects have been awarded first prize at VIDA, an international competition by Telefónica Spain. In 2013 the couple received the Witteveen+Bos Art+technology Award for their entire oeuvre. The artists are represented by gallery DAM in Berlin.
Driessens & Verstappen on mentoring
“We regularly receive students or recently graduated artists in our studio who are seeking advice, often from the field of Art Science. Sometimes they are starting duos or artists with a desire to work together. We can exchange many experiences on this. Even though we are aware that every collaboration is unique and that there is no blueprint available for how a collaboration like this works best.
Our mindset is ‘lifelong learning’ where failed experiments are just as important for development as successful ones.
Through our years of experience with complex installations, commissions for specific contexts, and presentations at all kinds of exhibition venues, we can share a lot of expertise on content and practical choices, such as material research, DIY approaches to technique, seeking appropriate audiences and funding.
We want to help the starting artist to open up to a wide range of options which fit their interests and way of working. On the one hand, looking for a substantive focus. And on the other hand, not being too quick to narrow your gaze to one specific medium or style.”