Visual art
I hereby introduce Deplorables Maximus to you.
Pen and ink on paper
70 x70 cm
2026
Portraits of well known characters, faces intertwined.
The departure of these inglorious bastards begins with a deep and profound wish.
NO, it’s not a compliment if you’re in this picture.
Pen and ink on paper
70 x 69,3 cm
2026
The expression more or less is used to indicate an estimate or an approximation, but in a materialistic context, it’s a matter of give or take.
If the shopping cart were a reflection of our system, it would be clear what we need to do if we want to change the system: Leave it empty, don't supplement it, and it will have to adapt to a different standard in order to justify its existence.
Someone wise and influential once said: “The system will not change the rules; we will have to change the system.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
In this drawing, you’ll find a few deviations here and there, but the drawing is more or less an accurate representation of stacked shopping carts—shopping carts that more or less represent a “give or take” system.
Goed nieuws! Er komt einde aan een lange periode van onzekerheid want: IK GA VERHUIZEN!!!!! Nieuw atelier, nieuwe wijk, nieuw uitzicht.
Ik ga eind juli verhuizen en vanaf 01 augustus is mijn atelieradres: Gelijkheid 3, 8014 XC te Zwolle/ voormalige Jena XL lokaal 1.9. Het wordt mijn grootste atelier ooit, 135m2. Het is wederom een tijdelijk atelier, maar ik kan weer even rustig ademhalen.
Het valt ook heel goed samen met een mooi community art project wat ik in Zwolle Zuid met woningbouwcorporatie deltaWonen en Het werkt Sociaal ga uitvoeren in opdracht van deltaWonen. Dat project start eind augustus met een eerste bijeenkomst. Dus dat wordt mijn eerste wapenfeit vanuit mijn nieuwe atelier.
Ondertussen blijf ik wel op zoek naar een permanente ruimte van ±60 > 90m2, dus als je dit leest en denkt dat je hierin (in de toekomst) iets kunt betekenen, laat het me weten!
Ik zal deze gekke maar fijne plek aan de Rieteweg zeker wel missen, veel leuke mensen en dito situaties meegemaakt!
Voor nu, inpakken en (bijna) wegwezen!
Zienema KORT & KRACHT | SHORT & POWERFUL This coming Sunday at De Ploegh – National Artists’ Society & Gallery, Amersfoort.
As part of the side program for the Resistance exhibition, I will be screening four short art videos on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. that I created between 2020 and 2022.
1- Gibberish – (in collaboration with Ali Reza Tahoeni) (1:10)
2- OOOOH WELL – (in collaboration with Ali Reza Tahoeni) (1:26)
3- Revolution Will Not Be Televised _ (in collaboration with Ali Reza Tahoeni) (2:05)
4- Dedicated Follower – (6:44)
Consider this an invitation to admire a beautiful, multi-layered exhibition and, on top of that, to enjoy a brief yet powerful cinematic experience.
Incidentally, there’s a side program almost every weekend where you can see, read, and discuss more—for example, about the sculpture *NAKBA* by Michiel Deylius:
In addition to many beautiful artworks, the exhibition also features work by me and by Ahmed Aldaalsa.
Zienema SHORT & POWERFUL (KORT & KRACHT)
Sunday, June 21 | 3:00 p.m.
Galerie de Ploegh
Cultuurhuis bij Flint
Coninckstraat 58
3811 WK Amersfoort
No reservations are required; there will be plenty of opportunity to chat with one another. Hope to see you there!
June 11 till July 19 2026 – De Ploegh Gallery, Amersfoort
The Exhibition Resistance tries to interpret this loaded word artistically. As seen through the eyes and hands of the artists, this word proves that it can indeed be viewed and approached from many different angles; abstract, specific, personal, political, social, philosophical or psychological
This exhibition expresses resistance in various ways to contemporary developments and events such as: growing authoritarian tendencies, a government that bureaucratically crushes its citizens, the depletion of the earth, and addictive algorithms used by social media companies—there are so many reasons for resistance, the list goes on.
The intention of this exhibition is to make a visual statement, whether subtle or forceful.
Can art set something in motion?
Participating artist including myself are:
Ahmed Aldaalsa
Anna Belleforte
Barbara Bläsing
Myra Breukers
Michiel Deylius
Jan van Dijk
Boudewijn Korsmit
Maarten van der Laag
Guy-Gérard Ngono
Marit Otto and Linda Verkaaik
Galerie De Ploegh
(Cultuurhuis bij Flint) Coninckstraat 58
3811WK Amersfoort
(033) 475 07 70
info@deploegh.nl
Tue to Sun 13.00 – 17.00 uur
Free entrance
Opening: Sunday June 14- 3:00 p.m.
There is an interesting side program as well check the whole program here!
Afgelopen najaar ben ik weer benaderd door deltaWonen en Stichting Het Werkt Sociaal (voorheen Travers), met de vraag of ik mee wil denken/werken aan een community- art project in Zwolle Zuid. Om precies te zijn de Van der Capellenstraat rondom het winkelcentrum.
In 2016 heb ik eerder in opdracht van deltaWonen een community-artproject gedaan in de hal van het wooncomplex Wade Belvedere, Stadshagen, Zwolle. Dat was een prachtig leuk project met een blijvend resultaat; een vrolijke zonnige entree die nog altijd in deze vorm in gebruik is.
Nu, aanstaande zaterdag 25 april 2026 sta ik met mijn presentatie tijdens de Oranjefair tussen 16u en 18u in de binnentuin van de Regentenstraat onder de noemer: KUNST IN JE WIJK.
Het doel hiervan is betrokken en creatieve buurtbewoners werven die aan willen haken bij dit project. Als kerngroep kan je meedenken en werken aan de realisatie van een mooi kunstwerk op de wanden in deze buurt.
Woon je in deze buurt en lijkt het je wat, dan zie ik jou graag langskomen. De intekenlijst ligt klaar.
Tot zaterdag!?
THISCREPANCY – pen and ink on paper – 70 x 70 cm- 2026
Soldier, seen from behind, heavily armed, has orders from higher up. He obeys and asks no questions, because that's what soldiers do.
Souldier seen from behind, heavily armed, has orders from higher up. He has moral objections and poses questions, because that is what soldiers should do.
Soldier will not judge right or wrong, he carries out orders. Just a tool, an extension of a greater power.
Souldier might have an opinion about what is right and wrong and is prudent in carrying out an order. Much more than a tool or an extension of a higher power.
Soldier has no political colour, just camouflage colours; he serves whoever pays his wages.
Souldier has no political colour, just camouflage colours; his humanity is not for sale.
Soldier obeys and asks no questions, because that is what soldiers do
Souldier have moral objections and pose questions, because that is what soldiers should do.With Gaza and Westbank in mind, a heads up against the oppression of Netanyahu and pro peace, for U.S.A. Citizens heads up against ICE (and Trump) pro peace, Ukraine heads up against Putin and pro peace. The list could go on for ever- heads up for all who wants a peaceful living without oppressors.
Coming soon: International Group Exhibition ‘COMMON GROUND’ at Larry Gallery
This exhibition is curated by Nicolaes Devriendt, Larry Gallery, and showcases 27 international artist including myself.
27 artist will be presented on two locations in Courtrai, Belgium, over a six week period. It opens at January 29th to March 15th at these two locations: Koning Leopold I straat 26 & Groeningestraat 36.
I wil exhibit two of my latest works there; Sea Of Tranquility and Space Invaders.
“Common Ground reflects the gallery’s ongoing commitment to emerging talent. It reinforces an understanding of contemporary art that values depth, risk, and independence over instant legibility.”
This quote is attributed to: Kisito Assangni (Togolese-French curator, art consultant) who wrote an item about this upcoming exhibition in Artdependence Magazine.
You can read whole article here: https://artdependence.com/articles/common-ground-belgiums-most-anticipated-exhibition-of-emerging-artists-in-2026/
Participating Artists :
LARRY GALLERY
Exhibition Dates : January 29 – March 15
Locations: Groeningestraat 26, Kortrijk
Koning Leopold I Straat 26, Kortrijk
Pen and ink on Paper
70 x 70
2025
There is a prison that’s called freedom by its owner.
There is a story that’s called truth by a liar.
There is outrage that’s called civil by a demagogue.
There is a castle in the air that’s denying gravity
There are dead end streets that never lead to Rome
Where beauty is a face that looks like Silicon Valley
Where clickbait is a business model sold as creativity
There is a refugee thats named data in the Matrix
and she wants to go home.
(Thank you Prince for inspiring me with the lyrics from the song Welcome To America)
More drawings: https://maritotto.nl/pen-and-ink-drawing/