Rem Posthuma’s art is both non-confrontational and powerful

The work invites contemplation of the empty space within the outline of the sculpture.
The significanceof the void is something I examine and is important in my work.
I play with the density between the existing matter I create and the void it captures.
It is an experience “containing” the unspoken and the unnamed, offering a frame to explore what is boundless, beyond words and literal description.

Also ornamentation is important in my work. Through its extension and repetition of forms the eye can’t fix itself in one spot, the mind can’t be imprisoned in any particular place.
I play with the density between the existing matter and the void it captures.

Creating my work there is always a considerable risk involved in the process. I work with materials ‘on the edge’, sometimes the work is a triumph of small-scale engineering whereby the boundaries between art, craft and technic are all set for the purpose of creation. The process of making my work involves a lot of technics so the work in the studio is reminiscent of ritualistic acts, whereby repetition is a crucial means of creating my art.

Lately I’m interested in using the latest 3-D technics but always combining them with other technics and materials a craftsman would use. My latest art work for a public building is a Wall Relief for the Islamic Pavilion at the New Ooster in Amsterdam. At this moment this work represents all that I’m trying to do in the art, craft and technical fields.

Exhibitions

2014

Clay!
A century of ceramics at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
Gemeente Museum Den Haag
8 november 2014 t/m 12 april 2015

Van Toen & Van Nu
Galerie De Witte Voet Amsterdam
een werk van toen en een werk van nu van zeven oud studenten van de bijna 100-jarige afdeling Keramiek van de Gerrit Rietveld Academie (1917)
1 november t/m 20 december 2014

2013
RAW Art Fair Rotterdam, group show De Witte Voet Galerie Rotterdam

2012
De Witte Voet Galerie, together with architect Furkan Köse, Presenting the art work for the Islamic Paviljon being build at the Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats,Amsterdam

2010
• Galerie Helenbeck Paris, group show, ‘CramX contemporaine’, exhibition at Galery Gismondi, Paris, France
• KCB Bergen, group show, ‘Natuurlijk vormgegeven’
• Galerie Helenbeck, together with Jeff Haines, ‘Subtitles’, Nice, France

2009
• Museum Princessehof, (National Ceramics Museum, The Netherlands) group show, ‘New Loves, Acquisitions of modern ceramics’, Leeuwarden
• EKWC Dutch Design Week, group show 'Ceramics and Architecture' , Eindhoven
• Old Jeroens Church, group show‘Silencio’ on behalf of ‘The commemoration of the dead’ , Noordwijk

2008
• Museum for ceramics Flicam, group show, Fuping, China,
• Artfair Rai Amsterdam, group show, De Witte Voet Galerie
• Zuiderzeemuseum, group show ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’, Enkhuizen
• De Witte Voet Galerie, group show ‘Op weg naar Fuping’, Amsterdam

2007
• Braintree Town Hall Art Gallery and Museum, group show, ‘Capturing Paradise: art by Western and Non-Western artists influenced by Islamic Art and Culture’, Essex, Great Brittain
• De Witte Voet Galerie, Solo show ‘Arabesque’, Amsterdam
• EKWC group show ‘Brick -The Exhibition’, Groothandelsgebouw Rotterdam,
• Museum Princessehof, (National Ceramics Museum, The Netherlands), group show ‘Pretty Dutch', Contemporary Porcelain’, Leeuwarden

2006
Artfair Rai Amsterdam, group show, De Witte Voet Galerie

2005
De Witte Voet Galerie, Solo show ‘Curlicue’, Amsterdam

2003
• De Witte Voet Galerie, Solo show ‘A Wanderer’s View’, Amsterdam
• D.S.M, group show, Sittard
• Pakhuis Afrika, Solo show, Amsterdam
• Museum Het Kruithuis, group show ‘Floating Time’, ‘s Hertogenbosch

2002
• SBK, Emmen, group show ‘The Noorderbreedte Collection’, Emmen
• The Cigarette Factory, Solo show, ‘Industrial Silence’,Delft
• Galerie Verzameld Werk, group show ‘The Tree Project’, Gent, Belgium

2001
• Stedelijk Museum Zwolle, group show ‘Inbeeld’, Zwolle
• Museum of Modern Art Cairo, ‘8th International Cairo Biennale’, Egypt

2000
Museum Princessehof, (National Ceramics Museum, The Netherlands), Solo show ‘Tijd
(Time)’, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Collections

Zuiderzeemuseum, Enkhuizen
Museum Princessehof Leeuwarden
Museum for ceramics Flicam, Fuping, China
De Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats, Amsterdam

Various private collections in Europa and abroad

Projects

2006
European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC), Den Bosch, ‘Brick project’

2001
European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC), Den Bosch, three month work period

2000
International Sculpture Symposium, Beirut, Libanon

Education

1998-2000
Master of Fine Arts, Toegepaste Kunst, (Applied Art) Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam

1994-1998
Bachelor Fine Arts Ceramics, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam

Awards

2002-2003
Fonds voor Beeldende Kunsten, starting grant

2001-2002
Fonds voor Beeldende Kunsten, starting grant

2001
8th International Cairo Biënnale, Jury prize

Commissions

2011-2012
De Nieuwe Ooster Begraafplaats, The Islamic Paviljoen, sculpture for the façade, Amsterdam

2010-2011
Housing corporation Aarwoude, Kroondomein, Jewelery for three buildings above the entrance in Leimuiden

2008
Museum for ceramics Flicam, Fuping, China

2004-2005
Housing corporation Nieuwkoop, Ringslootproject, sculpture for the façade of sheltered accommodation

2002
The Province of Groningen, sculpture for the entrance hall of Groningen Provinciehuis

2000
A private collector, a brench trough a room painted on tiles