Martijn Petrus


Multidisciplinary artist
martynpetrus@gmail.com




 I'm interested in the relationship between the human and other than human/nature, approached from different perspectives. I work across different media such as sculpture, video, image, assemblage, sometimes including found objects, text and installation. I'm an enthousiast of using various techniques, for example 3D-animation, growing mycelium, 3D-print, as I'm interested in the dialogue between digital and manual production. This year I am exploring to record and create sound and writing more fiction. In my research I am looking at fields like biology, palaeontology, queer-ecologies, interspecies kinship, literary fiction and video games. This I combine with the subjective experience of the world around me and my imagination.

By combining different disciplines within my projects, I aim to bring a multifaceted and complete idea into realisation. Drawing on the Romantic notion of the Gesamtkunstwerk, the various elements complement each other like characters or storylines within the narrative.



Curriculum Vitae


Education
2016 - 2017: Master Fine Arts, graduated with high distinction. KASK School of Arts Gent, Belgium.

2015 - 2016: Erasmus programma, EAA (Estonian Art Academy). Tallinn, Estonia.

2013 - 2016: Bachelor Fine Arts, graduated with distinction. KASK School of Arts Gent, Belgium.

2008 - 2012: Bachelor Fotografie. Fotoacademie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


Exhibitions 

 2025 – Cul-2-Sacs, group show in two parts, in collaboration with Level Five and Islands of contemporary art. ICA, Cologne, Germany.

2025 - Cul-de-Sac, group show in two parts, in collaboration with Level Five and Islands of contemporary art. Alte Tankstelle Deutz, Cologne, Germany.

2024 - Biennale Het Voorstel #3, group show, CC de Steiger/stadsmuseum, Menen, Belgium.

2023 - The urge to eat poisonous berries, two week residency with QueerAnarchive and solo exhibition during Qfest, Galerija Kluba Kocka, Split, Croatia.

2023 - Echoes, duo presentation, Moonens Foundation, Brussels, Belgium.

2023 - Sometimes I look into a tube and there’s nothing in it, duo presentation, 37PK, Haarlem, The Netherlands.

2022 - Three months residency at 37PK, Haarlem, The Netherlands.

2022 - Elixir SPF, duo presentation, Sparewheel, Brussels, Belgium.

2022 - Family Business IV, Kinder Warteraum. Group show, Praxis für Kinder und Jugendliche, Paderborn, Germany.

2022 - CENDAR, Smoking Inside. Group show by Galerie Zotto, KBK, Brussels, Belgium.

2021 - Family Business III, Perfume Counter. Group show, de Gaper drugstore, Zandvoort, The Netherlands.

2021 - H Y P E R M A R K E T, group show, Kunsthal, Gent, Belgium.

2020 - Lichen, group show, Chaussee de Ninove 84. Brussels, Belgium.

2020 - Waldeinsamkeit. Summer project/residency. Kasteel van Wildenburg, Wingene, Belgium.

2019 – Family Business II, SHOWdROOM. Group exhibition, Paepens NV showroom for sanitary wear, Ninove, Belgium.

2019 - Gnome Garden. Collaboration with Mark Grootes. Bebe space, DOK, Ghent Belgium.

2019 – Family Business I, Salon Piédestal. Group exhibition, Pedicure salon Care Wormerveer, Wormerveer, Netherlands.

2018 - Terminal Purification, duo exhibition, Joseph Stevensstraat 30, Brussels, Belgium.

2017 - Three finger salute, group exhibition, Drongenhofkapel, Ghent, Belgium.

2017 – X.perience an exhibition in space, group exhibition, In de ruimte, Ghent, Belgium.

2017 – Borrowed View, solo exhibition, Glazen Gang, KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.

2017 – Een kleptomaan neemt de dingen letterlijk. Group exhibition, Zwarte Zaal, KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.

2016 – Tumult in Ghent. Group exhibition, KERK, Ghent, Belgium.

2016 – False evidence appearing real. Group exhibition, EKKM (Estonian Museum for Contemporary Art), Tallinn, Estonia.

2015 – Breakfast @ R-Kiosk. Group exhibition, Raja Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia.

2014 – Vibrations OFf. Collective exhibition project with artist Honor d’O, Gallery Kristof de Clerq gallery, Ghent, Belgium.




Funding 
2026 - Artistic research and development grant of Flemish Government.

2024 - Artisic research and development grant of Flemish Government.

2022 - Funding for individual artist from the city of Haarlem, The Netherlands. 


Professional affiliations 
2025 – “Mycelium, growing shapes” workshop on working with fungi with 5th year high school students. KSO Brugge, Brugge, Belgium.

2024 – present: Council members of artist cooperative Level Five, collective decision-making, procedural and structural development, organizational advancement.

2024 – present: Location responsible at Level Five Gabrielle Petit, daily managing of the artists studios and the community.

2024: Design and realization of Level Five project space. In collaboration with artist Mathias Prenen.

2023 – 2024: Galerie Greta Meert. Photographer, reproductions of artwork and books. In addition, creating press releases, co-managing instagram page and website, installation of exhibitions.

2023 – present: Freelance technician, working together with institutions and artists during exhibition build-up, constructing scenography, installing and de-installing artworks. Clients include Kiosk Gent, Kunsthal Extra City, Mendes Wood DM, DROA Community.






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