Marloes van Son
Placeholder
3.4.-27.4.2025
Our homes are full of placeholder objects. Some are connected to intentions, some to aspirations, others to memories, while some just exist, connected to nothing at all. These objects take up both physical and mental space, occupying the position of another thing or person. Reminding us of previous events or potential futures. The ‘Placeholder’ exhibition presents modified furniture and handcrafted everyday items. Through woodwork, soundscapes and electronics these installations question the role of objects in our everyday lives. What things do we form connections with, what do these connections mean to the objects?
Some people would call me a collector, even though scavenger might be a better description. Objects have way of ending up in my possession. Friends give me old electronics, broken furniture, bits and bobs to repair or reuse. The thought-process for this exhibition started when a studio neighbour gifted me an old desk, full of paint splatters and chipped veneer, which screamed to be transformed. You could see that this desk had already been through a lot. It had been once been cherished, even painstakingly re-varnished, but at that moment no longer served a purpose to its current owner. It was no longer a placeholder, but was now just taking up space.
There’s a love-language in broken objects. The ones that can be repaired proudly continue their existence, defying finite lifespans and planned obsolescence. The ones that are too broken to fix can be re-purposed, changed, transformed. A dream of a time and place where anything can be useful once again. The installations in the ‘Placeholder’ exhibition show a blend of old and new, repaired and recreated: An old-fashioned telephone table that buzzes like a modern smartphone. A vanity desk that reflects on interactions through changing soundscapes. A light panel and blanket made of repurposed LEDs and yarn.
A placeholder itself has little meaning, their purpose is to safe a space for something to come. Their existence holds an expectation, something that will be there is elsewhere. Just like the objects that we hold dear are connected to memories stored in our memories. These installations offer the viewer a glimpse into the connections we form with everyday objects. Do we need them, or do they need us?
Marloes van Son (born 1991, NL) creates sound-objects, instruments and experimental music. Her artistic practice combines electronics, woodwork and sound in varying combinations. Through her work she explores everyday appliances and situations. She is interested in interactions between humans and technology and is currently fascinated by repair culture, interface design, interactive environments and combinations of electronics with craftsmanship.
Thank you
The artistic work for the exhibition has been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
SWAMP for providing recycled materials.
Contact details
info (a) marloesvanson.nl
