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Maarten Kolk reinterprets the craft of imitation painting. His experiments with color, texture, and illusion reveal new forms of authenticity and material imagination. The project explores contemporary applications of this historic craft. On view at Envisions during Dutch Design Week.
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Maarten Kolk reinterprets the craft of imitation painting – the refined reproduction of wood and marble structures – and explores how traditional techniques can gain new meaning. The project focuses on color, texture, and layering, examining the interplay between authenticity and illusion, luxury and simplicity. In this way, the historical value of the craft is placed in a contemporary context and its future potential is highlighted.
The process began with an in-depth study of classical techniques and tools, in collaboration with decorative painter Fiona Broeders. Subsequently, Maarten Kolk conducted experiments in which color and texture were played with and layers were built up. By combining traditional methods with new tools and free interpretations, complex surface treatments were developed that reinterpret the craft.
The results demonstrate a high degree of material presence. They allow the viewer to experience the suggestion of material without being able to immediately identify it. In this way, the project invites a renewed encounter with craftsmanship, imagination, and the subtle power of color and material.
