Michiel is an artist who works with wood and moss, as his artist name HOUT & MOS states. He often works with large scale pieces, such as refurbished furniture. For the exhibition at Meterhuisje, Michiel has made four pieces that get larger and larger in size.
The piece “Uitzicht op Groen - View of Green” began with inspiration from a stained glass piece from the museum, reinterpreted into wood. Using only wood and paint, the piece evolves through various sizes, starting small and gradually expanding into a 3m x 3m interactive space. Each layer of the work is separated by space, creating depth and inviting viewers to enter and explore. The final installation includes seating areas and transitions from 2D to 3D, culminating in a window behind the layers that opens onto a view of nature—a human-made park. The work prompts reflection on the concept of nature and its intersection with human intervention.
What does the concept of garden city ideals mean for you?
The concept of garden city ideals makes me reflect on how we perceive nature and natural elements within the city. My work, titled ‘View of Green,’ explores this relationship by contrasting different angles of nature and how it often feels trapped within urban spaces. I was inspired by something I heard on the radio about how cities and offices are designed with trees or greenery nearby to provide a view of green or the sounds of nature, which is meant to support psychological well-being. However, there’s an irony in this—while these elements are intended to care for us, they also highlight how disconnected we’ve become from nature, as we’re often physically removed and looking at it through a window.
How is this concept expressed through the art piece you are making for this exhibition?
This concept is expressed through the gradual progression of the pieces, starting with a small work where only a little green can be seen, and expanding into larger and larger works that slowly reveal more green. The largest piece, a 3m by 3m space, invites viewers to step inside and see green through a window at the back. Each piece builds on the last, transitioning from a two-dimensional form into a layered, three-dimensional experience. The layers are separated by space, also growing in distance, creating depth and eventually inviting viewers to enter and interact with the work.
The final window opens onto a view of Westerpark, a human-made park, prompting reflection on what we define as nature and how we interact with it in urban environments. By offering seating areas and inviting people into the space, the work transforms from something to look at into something to experience.
Is there something in the current exhibition, ‘Het Paradijs van de Arbeider: Tuindorpen en Tuinsteden', at Museum Het Schip that sparked an interest for you?
I was actually inspired by something in the museum gift shop. A stained glass case that is used to showcase books. Based on a photo that I took of this bookcase, I have reinterpreted it with wood, using only wood and paint, and creating it in different sizes. This reinterpretation explores how to translate the flat, colorful qualities of stained glass into a three-dimensional form.
What role do you think art can play in shaping or reimagining the future of garden cities and green urban living?
Art has unlimited possibilities when it comes to shaping or reimagining the future of garden cities and green urban living. It allows us to take a critical stance on what we’re doing now and reflect on the choices we’ve made so far. Art can help us to think about how we integrate nature into urban spaces and other ways of being, offering alternative images of how things can be.
