- Visual art

In this post I feature the latest work ‘No time to recover’ by Ahmed Aldaalsa, an artist from Gaza (March 2025)

No time to recover - by Ahmed Aldaalsa - Gaza — No time to recover – by Ahmed Aldaalsa – Gaza

Ahmed about this drawing:
“Well this person is me and I am trying to talk in this work about not recovering because you know the war is back again so I did not take enough time for my mind and body to recover and now I feel very scattered and also I am holding a cactus in my hand which is a symbol of patience here in Palestine“

While Gaza is, still and again, under siege by Netanyahu’s army. Ahmed and his family are still trying to survive and overcome this devastating defeat. But like the titel of his latest drawing, he is not able to recover this intense and brutal crimes against them. While most Gazans drown in silent despair, Ahmed can still draw us a picture.

Ahmed’s story is the story of many Gazans; their situation is dire and distressing. I gave Ahmed a guest page on my website in July 2024 and exhibited his work in art space the Langhuis Zwolle. You can read more about it at https://maritotto.nl/guest-page/ or https://www.langhuis.nl/expected-gaza-24/.

I am fully aware of my own lack of power but I think it is still important that the story, including the personal and in this case the artistic story, continues to be told and that the eyes of the world remain on Gaza (and the West Bank). Also, it is my indictment of Netanyahu, I hope justice will be done.

Detail of No time to recover'. The catus is symbol for patience in Gaza. — Detail of No time to recover’

Do you wish to support/help Ahmed? check this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-ahmed-and-his-family-to-safety

10 maart 202513 maart 2025

Enable & Disable

(Nederlandse versie)

Hereby I present my latest artworks to you; ‘Enable & Disable (diptych)

Acrylic on canvas

50 x 50 x 1cm each

2025

Enable and disable; these words hold power to switch on or off. Each time we are asked to enable or disable we take a turn in one direction. This trivial action may have implications.

As individuals we sometimes seem and feel powerless but together we can be a force of change, if we choose to.

Sadly, the global unregulated free market in its current form has been proving destructive to the planet but is now endangering our democracies as well.

At the root of every product is a producer, but then there is also, ultimately, a user. We are that users. Without a user a producer is a king without a kingdom, an empty, harmless shell. So what we as consumers do, buy and use matters. We are able to enable and disable. Switch on and off. With every purchase, we enable someone at the end of the line. We are able to make kings rise and fall and disable or enable anyone who can or can’t handle our confidence and saves or steals our future.

7 maart 20257 maart 2025

Serious Attitude

Hereby I present to you; ‘Serious Attitude (this is not democracy)’

Digital artprint on paper
50 x 50 cm
2025

I captured this situation when I was in Luxembourg some years ago.
I altered it a bit and have taken it to the actuality.
It’s a symbolic comment.

5 maart 20256 maart 2025

Exhibition at Nel, Amsterdam

(Nederlandse versie)

The paintings Virgin Screen 01 and 02 and #Do You Follow Me and #Are You Following Me, are on display again starting this week at Nel , sustainable design at Waddenweg 3a in Amsterdam.

For a couple of years I have had a special cooperation with Jorrit Tol (Nel). Stop by to see my work but certainly also to check out his special sustainable design furniture.

The artworks are selected from the Brave New World series

More about Nel: https://www.nel.nl/

More about Brave New World: https://maritotto.nl/brave-new-world-2018-2/

Virgin Screens - acryl op canvas- 100 x 150 cm - 2023 — Virgin Screens – acryl op canvas- 100 x 150 cm – 2023

Virgin Screen - Green 2024- schilderij — Virgin Screens – acryl op canvas- 100 x 150 cm – 2023

4 maart 20254 maart 2025

Idealenschool

(English version)

Vanaf 14 april |19.30 – 22.00u| start de Idealen-avond- school Zwolle in mijn atelier aan de Rieteweg 10. Hier begeleid ik jou van aspirant idealist tot praktijk idealist.

In mijn werk als beeldend kunstenaar doe ik eigenlijk niets anders dan een uitlaatklep vormen voor mijn gedachten en een vorm zoeken voor mijn idealen. Soms reikt het verder dan de kunst. Zoals nu…

Sinds kort ben ik een van de docenten aan de Idealenschool, de praktijk school voor idealen. De Idealenschool is een initiatief van Johannes van den Akker en Suzan Doodeman (De Ceuvel, Amsterdam) en het vindt plaats in in 6 steden in Nederland en België waaronder ook Zwolle en om precies te zijn, in mijn atelier aan de Rieteweg 10.

In zes avonden ga je van ideaal naar idee naar doen. Ik wil als ervaren idealist en nu als docent mensen in beweging zetten. Ik reik inspirerende voorbeelden aan uit eigen praktijk en gebruik handige tools om de idealen en bijbehorende stappen in kaart te brengen. Aan het eind van de cursus heb je ontdekt wat je ideaal is en hoe jij daar vanuit jouw talent en mogelijkheden aan kunt bijdragen.

Ik heb de overtuiging dat mijn creatieve geest, gekoppeld aan een praktische inslag, anderen ook op weg kan helpen met het realiseren van hun idealen.

De Zwolse cursus start 14 april van 2025
van 19.30 – 22.00u.

Bijeenkomst 1- staat in het teken van: Heel Goed Kijken en Alles Is Mogelijk in de tweede bijeenkomst, bijeenkomst 3 en 4 staan in het teken van Experiment in de 5e bijeenkomst ga je van experiment naar realiteit in Maak Het Waar en in week 6 Vieren We Het Resultaat.

Alle data op een rijtje

1- 14 april – Heel Goed Kijken

2- 28 april – Alles Is Mogelijk

3- 12 mei – Doe een Experiment 1

4- 28 mei – Doe Een Experiment 2

5- 16 juni – Maak Het Waar

6- 30 juni – Vier Het resultaat

Wil je hier meer van weten of je opgeven dat kan hier: https://idealenschool.nl/

maar een persoonlijk mailtje of belletje kan ook: e-mail: maoatelier007@gmail.com en tel: 0620661723

Idealenscholen zitten door heel Nederland:

Amsterdam: Suzan Doodeman, Johannes van den Akker en Ellen Jansen
Lelystad: Jakob Stolk
Twente: Veerle Huyers en Joyce
Utrecht: Judith Duijzer-Smouter
Amersfoort: Chris Rijksen

Groningen: Joanne Boonstra

Of zelfs in België;

hashtag#Gent: Pascaline 🌸 Louwagie

Voorbehoud: om te kunnen starten met de Idealen school heb ik een minimum van 5 a 6 inschrijvingen nodig, als er niet genoeg inschrijvingen zijn, komt deze serie lessen te vervallen en krijg je je geld terug. Dan komt er mogelijk een nieuwe inschrijvingsronde in het najaar van 2025.

Heeft u vragen aan Marit bel 06 20661723|| Vragen aan de Idealenschool Amsterdam:0644648329 | suzan@hoedanwel.nl

26 februari 202526 februari 2025

Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions is shortlisted

(Nederlandse versie)

Wonderful news, my painting ‘ Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions’ has been shortlisted in the Singulart International Women’s Day 2025 Award!

The jury states that it stands out with its unique perspective on the theme of (female) Bravery.

Last-Gatekeepers-Of-Lost-Revolutions-acryl-op-canvas-beeldende-kunst-Marit-Otto — Acryl op canvas 100/150 cm

About the work itself:
Hovering female figures spreading their arms wide open and floating around. They are jumping and moving simultaneously. They are clearly present and strong. The last gatekeepers is referring to a world where young men, the proverbial sons, are sent to war by other men. This is why, I believe, when women rule, wars will end. No mother in her right mind will ever send her child voluntarily to a war, any war.

Last Gatekeepers Of Lost Revolutions is part of the Metropolitan series and is currently on display in Bruxelles handled by Bernice, Art Rental and Gallery in Temse.

Check this work at; https://www.singulart.com/nl/kunstwerken/marit-otto-last-gatekeepers-of-lost-revolutions-54563

More about the Metropolitan series: https://maritotto.nl/metropolieten-2017-2/

Anxious to hear the final verdict, I’ll keep you posted!

14 februari 202517 februari 2025

Sea Of Tranquility

(Nederlandse versie)

Sea Of Tranquility 2025

Acrylic on canvas

155 x 90

Part of the Brave New World series

This painting features 7 alienated versions of me.

I am not truly at ease with the concept of AI, but as an image creator, I felt the need to know where the future of image creation is heading. So I started my first investigation into AI in Photoshop.

I used a recent picture of myself and simply instructed the conceptual toolbar: ‘’improve‘’. The result of this one instruction was a bit of horror meets a VR-loving alien. A surprising and baffling introduction to AI, but not really a compliment.

I now imagine that in its eyes, my request for improvement could only lead to something that would visually resemble a physical version of itself, just like the creator who created humankind in his own image. As uncanny as this outcome was, it inspired me to create this canvas on which a more sympathetic version of this raw first artificial draft, times seven, rises from a restless sea of tranquillity.

I thank AI for this inspiration, but I am not sure if I will become a frequent flyer, though; probably I will and without knowing that I do, just like the rest of us. She is beyond us.

I’m not sure our lives will get better with AI and all that it embeds and will encapsulate in the future.

If it were up to me (it is not), I would rather live life with all its beautiful, natural imperfections and oddities with the certainty of death than become a servant of a perfect faceless system with a poor imagination.

This painting is handmade.

30 januari 202530 januari 2025

Sold ‘Turist’

Happy to report that my painting “Turist” found a new and very loving home this week. Sold to an art enthusiast from Zwolle and it fits beautifully there.

Blij te melden dat mijn schilderij ‘Turist’ deze week een nieuw en heel fijn thuis heeft gevonden. Ze is verkocht aan een Zwolse kunstliefhebber en het hangt er prachtig.