Isa van Lier (Amsterdam, 1996) makes ceramic sculptures, installations, paintings and drawings. With her work she conveys an all-embracing idea of softness and playfulness. Through an universal imagery of shapes and colors, she immerses the viewer in wonder. She creates playgrounds, where the childlike curiosity of the viewer is being tickled, where time stands still and the intuitive inner world is allowed to be felt.
In 2019, Van Lier spent six months in Japan as an exchange student at Tokyo Zokei University. This stay had a profound effect on her work. In particular the 'kawaii' culture of the country inspires her: a cuteness that is visible through all layers of society. In Japan she was also introduced to 'shinto animism', which believes that everything and every object has a soul. By adding personalities to the shapes in her work, she applies this philosophy herself.
The magnus opum in her young career is the fascinating work Len temple (Temple of Spring), which she made for the group exhibition Paradys (2022). Van Lier made a contemporary temple inspired by the Zen gardens of Japan, recreating the serenity and balance she found in these gardens. It was a plea for the creation of these kinds of places, which Van Lier feels are missing from the pace of everyday life in the Netherlands.
In 2019, Van Lier spent six months in Japan as an exchange student at Tokyo Zokei University. This stay had a profound effect on her work. In particular the 'kawaii' culture of the country inspires her: a cuteness that is visible through all layers of society. In Japan she was also introduced to 'shinto animism', which believes that everything and every object has a soul. By adding personalities to the shapes in her work, she applies this philosophy herself.
The magnus opum in her young career is the fascinating work Len temple (Temple of Spring), which she made for the group exhibition Paradys (2022). Van Lier made a contemporary temple inspired by the Zen gardens of Japan, recreating the serenity and balance she found in these gardens. It was a plea for the creation of these kinds of places, which Van Lier feels are missing from the pace of everyday life in the Netherlands.
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Len Tempel, 'Temple of Spring'
By Isa van Lier
Part of the exhibition 'Paradys'
7 May - 29 August 2022
Oranjewoud, The Netherlands
Curated by Hans den Hartog Jager
Video by Toto Kersten
Music by Camiel Muiser
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Isa van Lier acquired a BA in Fine Arts at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague in 2020. The following year she was a nominee for the Piket Prize for Visual Arts. She has exhibited at Het HEM, Zaandam, Art Rotterdam and 3.00G gallery in Tokyo amongst others. In 2022 her work was shown at the Kunsthal in Rotterdam and at the exhibition Paradys in Oranjewoud, curated by Hans den Hartog Jager. She did residencies at EKWC, Oisterwijk and at Het HEM in Zaandam.
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CV | Isa van Lier
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1996
Education
2016-2020 BA Fine Arts, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands
2019 Exchange, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo Japan
Exhibitions
2022
Galerie Fleur en Wouter, Amsterdam, Painter’s Painters (upcoming)
Unfair, Amsterdam Kunsthal, Rotterdam, Kunsthal Light, ‘FLOW’ Oranjewoud, Friesland, group show, ‘Paradys’ Galerie Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Ministerie van Keramische Zaken’
2021
Maaskoe Gallery, Rotterdam, Kerstsalon
Het HEM, Permanent Collection, Zaandam, solo Installation, ‘Guardians of het HEM’ Rademakers Gallery, Amsterdam, Edition Weekend Art Rotterdam, Rademakers Gallery, Rotterdam, ‘Grabbelton’ Maaskoe Gallery, Rotterdam, duo show, ‘Urschleim’ Het HEM, Zaandam, ALL-INN Graduates
2020
Tiny Art Gallery, Den Haag
New Horizon, group show, Rademakers Gallery, Amsterdam, group show, ‘New Horizon’ Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, Den Haag, Graduation Show, ‘ZEN SUPERMARKET’
2019
Helena van Doeverenplantsoen, Den Haag, group show, ‘Note-to-Self’ 3.00G gallery, Zokei University, Tokyo, Japan, one man show, ‘My Japanese Room’ T’Wit, Amsterdam, duo show with ROTS, ‘Nog Lang Niet Jarig’ KABK, Den Haag, group show, ‘Belly’
2018
SKÈR, Ruigoord, performance, Charley El Ranzino KABK, Den Haag, group show, ‘To Dee or Not to Dee’ Czaar Peterstraat, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Home Expo 3.0’ 2017 Erik’s House, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Blousem’ 2016 Landjuweel, Ruigoord, group performance and installation with SKÈR, ‘Sofie in the Jungle’ Mollie Chaoot, Amsterdam, solo show, ‘Grote Glazen Kleine Lettertjes’
2015
Concerto Records store, Amsterdam, solo show
Awards
2021 Nominated for the Piket Kunstprijs 2020 Jan Roëde Award: Certificate of Excellence
Collections
Akzonobel Art Foundation, Amsterdam
Het HEM, Zaandam
Recidencies
2022 Sunday Morning EKWC, Europees Keramisch Werk Centrum Het HEM, Zaandam
Publications
2022
Publication,‘Paradys: vijftien kunstenaars over macht en maakbaarheid’, Paradys, Oranjewoud, Heerenveen, 7 mei – 14 augustus 2022, Grytsje Klijnstra (red.), Esther Darley, Hans den Hartog Jager, Thomas van Huut en Bert Looper.
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1996
Education
2016-2020 BA Fine Arts, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands
2019 Exchange, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo Japan
Exhibitions
2022
Galerie Fleur en Wouter, Amsterdam, Painter’s Painters (upcoming)
Unfair, Amsterdam Kunsthal, Rotterdam, Kunsthal Light, ‘FLOW’ Oranjewoud, Friesland, group show, ‘Paradys’ Galerie Vriend van Bavink, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Ministerie van Keramische Zaken’
2021
Maaskoe Gallery, Rotterdam, Kerstsalon
Het HEM, Permanent Collection, Zaandam, solo Installation, ‘Guardians of het HEM’ Rademakers Gallery, Amsterdam, Edition Weekend Art Rotterdam, Rademakers Gallery, Rotterdam, ‘Grabbelton’ Maaskoe Gallery, Rotterdam, duo show, ‘Urschleim’ Het HEM, Zaandam, ALL-INN Graduates
2020
Tiny Art Gallery, Den Haag
New Horizon, group show, Rademakers Gallery, Amsterdam, group show, ‘New Horizon’ Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten, Den Haag, Graduation Show, ‘ZEN SUPERMARKET’
2019
Helena van Doeverenplantsoen, Den Haag, group show, ‘Note-to-Self’ 3.00G gallery, Zokei University, Tokyo, Japan, one man show, ‘My Japanese Room’ T’Wit, Amsterdam, duo show with ROTS, ‘Nog Lang Niet Jarig’ KABK, Den Haag, group show, ‘Belly’
2018
SKÈR, Ruigoord, performance, Charley El Ranzino KABK, Den Haag, group show, ‘To Dee or Not to Dee’ Czaar Peterstraat, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Home Expo 3.0’ 2017 Erik’s House, Amsterdam, group show, ‘Blousem’ 2016 Landjuweel, Ruigoord, group performance and installation with SKÈR, ‘Sofie in the Jungle’ Mollie Chaoot, Amsterdam, solo show, ‘Grote Glazen Kleine Lettertjes’
2015
Concerto Records store, Amsterdam, solo show
Awards
2021 Nominated for the Piket Kunstprijs 2020 Jan Roëde Award: Certificate of Excellence
Collections
Akzonobel Art Foundation, Amsterdam
Het HEM, Zaandam
Recidencies
2022 Sunday Morning EKWC, Europees Keramisch Werk Centrum Het HEM, Zaandam
Publications
2022
Publication,‘Paradys: vijftien kunstenaars over macht en maakbaarheid’, Paradys, Oranjewoud, Heerenveen, 7 mei – 14 augustus 2022, Grytsje Klijnstra (red.), Esther Darley, Hans den Hartog Jager, Thomas van Huut en Bert Looper.
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