When Martijn Smulders completed his studies at the Academy of Visual Arts and the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam in 1999, he sought his path as a visual artist. A search that resulted in the foundation of Stigerwoods in 2013. In the Stigerwoods concept, Martijn shows the art of everyday things in detail on panels of old scaffolding wood. All his work is handmade using photography, recycled wood, and epoxy.
The wonder of the ordinary
‘Finding the wonder in the ordinary’, is how Martijn Smulders describes his mission as a visual artist. ‘My work shows the details and structure of everyday objects. The composition of fish skin, the depth and layering of colours in lobsters and the sheer simplicity of vegetables. When you accentuate and magnify such details, you become aware of the hidden wealth of colour, composition and patterns.’ Martijn’s unique techniques take the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Unique working method
He starts by photographing his objects. He then transfers the photos to recycled wood with traces of previous use. The imperfections this produces contribute to the character of his work. As he puts it himself: ‘Showing imperfections may not always be an obvious choice aesthetically, but the final result reveals the natural beauty.’ The finish with a glossy epoxy layer gives the wood the look of old tiles. The entire process, from photographing to applying the vernissage, takes about three weeks.
Successful entrepreneur
Not only is Martijn Smulders an artist with a unique concept, but he also knows how to sell his work. Given the choice of his objects, his tiles often end up in restaurants and private kitchens — not surprising. The professional Stigerwoods website includes a webshop for direct orders.
