The Art of Mom

Rotterdam. Niederlande. The art collective Mothership curates, advises and produces art projects, creating added value to public space, both indoors and outdoors. They have initiated and realized more than 300 projects in the Netherlands, other European countries as well as in the United Arab Emirates. We talked to Mothership founder Jeroen Everaert, who explains why art is important for public spaces and cities and what he likes about his hometown Rotterdam and the labyrinth of Venice.

Jeroen Everaert. Founded Mothership in 2005 in Rotterdam. — **Jeroen Everaert** Founded Mothership in 2005 in Rotterdam. *© Mothership*

1. Please describe the philosophy of mothership.

Mothership plays an important role in todays experience economy and is best known as identity developer in the public realm. We consider art as an essential ingredient of a dish and not a condiment added at the very last second. Art creates an enormous added value to architecture, real estate, area development and urban planning. Mothership adds the exploring and creative artists view to the “brick” construction and design teams. A new market is created where artists, area developers and urban planners work together to create new projects, which are better related to their location and more connected to the people living, visiting and working in that area. Our main philosophy is to introduce as many people as possible to art. By taking it out of the museums and placing it in the public area everybody is able to experience and enjoy art.

2. What does the design and coding of public realm do for the city?

Mothership is a unique company that operates in different lines of the industry. As concept designer and developer we add value to urban and scenic redevelopment by embedding visual arts in a business environment. This added value translates into sensational communication and PR value, which boosts the project and its surrounding area.

3. Mothership is known for its collaboration with artists: Please explain – based on a project as an example – how that works.

A good example is Mothership's largest project to date "Horn of Plenty". Together with artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam Mothership realized a 11.000 square feet mural on the ceiling of Rotterdam's Market Hall. Thanks to the artwork the Market Hall welcomed 8,5 million visitors in the first year instead of the projected 4 million visitors. This has not only benefited the turn-over of entrepreneurs inside and around the Market Hall it has also lead to a considerable increase of property value in the surrounding areas. Several businesses have caught up and started investing in this area which has lead to an acceleration of the urban redevelopment.

Markthal by MVRDV Architects – "Horn of Plenty" by Arno Coenen, Iris Roskam and Mothership

4. What are your current projects and what are you planning for the future?

Our concepts are appreciated far beyond the Dutch borders. Mothership and artist Margriet Smulders have been working together to create 3 mind-blowing ceilings for a new 17.000 square meters shopping mall in Germany, the Ems Galerie in Rheine. The Ems gallery is a project of Hermann Klaas Entwicklung. Mothership was invited by interior architects Thomas Schaper and Marielle Wichards to help make the gallery a showstopper. We are also focussing on the redevelopment of international airports. Visitors of Dutch airport Schiphol, Departure Hall 2, can already enjoy a beautiful artwork realised by Mothership and motion designer Eline Wieland. A pillar in the middle of a multi-branded high fashion store, covered with flexible LED-screens that also covers part of the adjoining ceiling, shows images of Dutch skies, blossoming cherry trees, the world's highest towers, fluttering hummingbirds and imposing mountain ranges. The artwork takes people on a trip around the world. More art projects on airports around the world are being developed. Mothership is also working on projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

5. Where is your favourite spot in your hometown and why? Your favourite location abroad?

Favourite spot in my hometown Rotterdam is the river Maas and the port of Rotterdam. Here you can really enjoy the open space and the greatness of this city. Rotterdam is home to he biggest port of Europe and here you really feel connected to Rotterdam's rich 'nautical' history in which water played such an important role. Water also plays a big part in my favourite place abroad: Venice. It's epic grandeur, the labyrinth of small streets and waterways, and the glorious architecture. This city is drenched in art and history combined with the Venetian Art Biennale makes it a unique place for me.

Art by Jorge Bakker in Rotterdam and Eline Wieland in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam

Lagardere. By Eline Wieland — **Lagardere** By Eline Wieland *© Mothership*

Bobbing Forest. By Jorge Bakker — **Bobbing Forest** By Jorge Bakker *© Mothership*

Mothership Jeroen Everaert founded Mothership in 2005 and Vincent van Zon has been Managing Partner since 2014. The company is based in Rotterdam and develops art projects for public and urban spaces and buildings. The team of Mothership operates as advisor, intermediary and/or assistant in order to bring culture and commerce together and to provide added value to projects and locations. By doing so Mothership has a positive and beneficial effect on organizations, artists and society.

Jeroen Everaert Founder of Mothership. Worked with Showroom MAMA 1999 – 2005. Studied at the Willem de Kooning Academy – Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, academy for bachelor and master degrees in media, art, design, leisure and education.

Jorge Bakker Born in Colombia in 1973 and lives and works in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He studied architectonic design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy (2003-2008) in Amsterdam and did a master’s study at the Sanberg Institute (2008-2010). He is known for sculptures with architectonical twists and different scales.

Eline Wieland Born 1972 in Amsterdam. Studied Interior Architecture at the Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam. Specialised in visual communication. From 1996 – 2012 collaboration with Marino Gouwens as Wieland&Gouwens. From 2012 – 2015: WielandStudio. Projects: VR-worlds Neeltje Jans (Kas Oosterhuis), Metacity/Datatown (MVRDV), Opening Rotterdam Centraal (Mothership) etc.

Arno Coenen, Iris Roskam Arno Coenen: born 1972 in Deventer, Netherlands. Multimedia Artist. Graduated 1997 at the Minerva Academy in Groningen. A year later he earned an MFA in computer graphics at Media-GN, Groningen. He lives and works in Klaaswaal. His work is often based in subcultures, youth culture and popular culture. He is also active as a VJ, curator and organizer. Projects: Oud-West, thuis best (2007) in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam; Hoorn des Overvloeds (2014) (Horn of Plenty) in the Markthal by MVRDV, in collaboration with Iris Roskam, Marinus de Ruiter, Michiel van Iperen, Frank aan de Stegge, Dustin Kershaw and Frank Hanswijk.

Hendrik Bohle (Architekt, Autor und Stadtforscher)
Dipl.-Ing. Architekt Hendrik Bohle betreibt mit studio HBohle ein kreatives Architektur- und Designstudio, das Architektur und Kultur im urbanen Raum ergründet und passgenaue Konzepte entwickelt und erstellt. Studium in Hannover, Cottbus, Berlin – aufgewachsen in Bielefeld. Er lässt sich bei Stadterkundungen gerne durch die Straßen treiben. Es sind die überraschenden Momente, die die Schönheit und Seele eines Ortes sichtbar machen. Mehr über die Autoren von The Link.

Jan Dimog (Publizist und Gründer)
Jan Dimog mag erhellende Geschichten über Menschen, Bauten und Orte. Ausgebildeter Journalist und Drehbuchautor mit Stationen in Groß- und Kleinverlagen, Agenturen und bei der "International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)" in Afghanistan als Mentor und Redakteur. Mit philippinischen Wurzeln auf Fehmarn und in Westfalen aufgewachsen. Seit 2001 Wahlberliner. Sein Debüt als Dokfilmautor wurde auf arte ausgestrahlt: "Countdown Afghanistan". Seit 2014 hat er mehrere Bücher veröffentlicht, darunter 2019 der "Architekturführer Kabul." Mehr über die Autoren von The Link.