Showroom
Especially for the opening of the new museum, Marius van Dokkum created the large painting Showroom. It is a new, extra-large version of an earlier work entitled Mannenhuishouding (A Man’s Household). The canvas is so large that, as a visitor, you almost feel as though you could step straight into the room.
Marius was able to indulge his love of painting an enormous variety of objects, clutter and different materials. There is always something new to discover!
The title is a playful reference to the 1980s television programme Showroom, which featured interviews with eccentric people with unusual lifestyles. The man in this painting would have fitted right in. His home, however, is anything but a showroom!
Art with a message
Art history also plays a role. The cluttered room is reminiscent of the famous domestic scenes painted by Jan Steen. But Showroom also reflects on the world we live in today. The man stands there looking relaxed, surrounded by all that waste, as if he does not really care.
In this way, Marius refers to how we treat the environment. We know that our planet is facing serious problems, from pollution in our oceans to a warming climate. Yet we seem to be growing increasingly accustomed to it, sometimes simply shrugging our shoulders.
With Showroom, Marius holds up a mirror to us: humorous at first glance, but with a serious message underneath.
