Marieta Reijerkerk - Archaeological observations

About Marieta Reijerkerk

In 2026, Marieta Reijerkerk will mark thirty years as an artist. In her work, she explores how time becomes visible in matter and landscape, in traces, remnants and structures that refer to what once existed.

Her fascination with archaeology began in her childhood, when she would search the earth for hidden objects and traces of the past. That curiosity later developed into a broader exploration of the significance of time and history in materials and environments.

What can you expect from Archaeological Observations?

The exhibition Archaeological Observations shows how impressions from travels and observations are translated into visual art. During trips to China, Mongolia, India, Mexico and Tajikistan, amongst other places, Reijerkerk discovered how the past remains visible in landscapes, walls, structures and found objects.

Small details, such as a discolouration on a wall, a pattern on the ground or a fragment washed ashore, often form the starting point for new work.

In her studio, she incorporates these observations into layered works made of wood, metal, copper, textiles and prints. Traces of manipulation, touch and decay remain visible, making the works sometimes seem more like they have been found than made.

About the exhibition

With Archaeological Observations, Marieta Reijerkerk invites visitors to reflect on what time leaves behind and on moments when the past unexpectedly becomes visible in the present.

To coincide with the exhibition, a book is being published featuring an overview of her work from the past fifteen years.