°1972 in The Hague, Netherlands.
Marjolein Knottenbelt invites the viewer to look at what seems familiar in a different way. She collects images and objects that speak to her, not only because of their form or appearance but also because of the memories, functions, and histories they carry. At the same time, she sees in each image the potential for something new. This tension between past and future, between recognition and renewal, lies at the heart of her work.
For the exhibition at Rik Rosseels Gallery, Knottenbelt primarily uses old paintings as a starting point. She cuts, rearranges, and reframes fragments to create new compositions that break away from their original context. Through these interventions, she transforms classical images into contemporary reflections on time, value, and interpretation.
By removing familiar images from their original environment and placing them in a different setting, she creates a space that can be both disorienting and enlightening. This sense of confusion opens the door to reflection. In that moment of disorientation, something new emerges, a personal, sensory experience in which meaning begins to shift.
