CHARLOTTE BESUIJEN
FLOATING CREATURES
EXHIBITIONS
ILLUSTRATION /
PUBLICATION
DRAWINGS
POSTERS
BILLBOARD
STUDIO / PROCESS
Photo by Matias Grøttum.
JOYforum Radio 2022
Lives and works in Bergen, Norway
studio at den uferdige insitusjon / the unfinished institution
https://denuferdigeinstitusjon.no
charlottebesuijen@gmail.com
www.charlottebesuijen.com
About
My work is inspired by the idea that any material can be a material to make art with. I aim to make the working process visible and to reflect on it.
My practice includes photography, drawing, film, site-specific installations, silkscreen printing, collage, papier maché sculptures, making posters and illustrations, organizing film nights and curating.
In my studio I am currently focussed on creating eclectic papier maché sculptures. I call these floating creatures because of their organic shapes. They are made of paper maché,
found materials, screen prints, photographs and scraps from earlier processes.
Simultaneously I am exploring screenprinting. My prints are based on paper-scraps left over after making collages. Some look like creatures, teardrops or clouds. Through screen printing, they come together in a playful, intuitive way, revealing new images.
Together, these works aim to activate the viewer’s imagination and personal engagement. Education:
2020-2022: Fine Arts (MA), Kunst Musikk Design Bergen, Norway.
2012-2016: Fine Arts (BA) AKV Sint Joost Breda, The Netherlands.
Solo exhibitions
Coming up 2025: Creatures and Clouds. Solo exhibition Isotop Fellesatelier, Bergen (NO)
2023: Smells like a swimming pool. Solo exhibition at Trykkeriet Bergen Norway
2022: Get in, get out, get distracted. JOYforum Bergen Norway. Collaboration with Masja Nødtvedt
2021: Sandcastles are mostly produced at the Beach, Solo exhibition. .Bergen Kjøtt.
Bergen (NO)
2020: From one to another, to you. Solo exhibition, RUIMTECaesuur, Middelburg (NL)
Group exhibitions
Coming up 2026: Duo exhibition in collaboration with Laura Gaiger. Galleri Christinegaard Bergen (NO)
Coming up 2025: Unfolding the kitchen. Group exhibition in collaboration with Thomas Kilpper, Gard Andreas Frantszen, Sveinung Rudjord Unneland, Ane Hjort Guttu, Matias Grøttum, Borghild Unneland, among others. After the Butcher Gallery, Berlin (DE).
2023: JOYforum, Group exhibition at Kristiansand Kunsthall. In collaboration with Sveinung Rudjord Unneland, Matias Grøttum,
Susanna Antonson, Marie Vallestad, Borghild Rudjord Unneland, Fergus Tibbs, Yasuyo Tatebe, Rikki Winde, Studio Studio, Gard Frantzen,
Rosa Marie Frang and Ane Hjort Guttu among others.
2022: Prøverommet at Oseana in collaboration with Kristen Keegan, Jonas Nielsen, Meg Dodini and Matias Grøttum.
2022: PICNIC Graduation show. Bergen Kunsthall Bergen. Curated by Randi Grov Berger
2021: Zip Friction. Group presentation in collaboration with classmates from the Master program at Kunst Musikk Design. Bergen Kjøtt. Bergen (NO)
2020: Prøverommet, Group presentation in Collaboration with Eleni Ieremia and Sasha Azanova. Hordaland Kunstsenter. Bergen (NO)
2019: Sense and reference. Group show in collaboration with Romee van Oers and Rebecca Niculae, Witte Rook. Breda (NL)
2018: Distortion. Curated by Loek Grootjans. Exhibition in collaboration with S.M.A.K. Gent, de PontTilburg and Vleeshal Middelburg, Willem II Fabriek s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
2017: Grenswerk, MOM Artspace. Hamburg (DE)
2017: In het midden, TAC Eindhoven (NL)
2017: 2000 Mijlen. CBK Zeeland Middelburg (NL)
2016: She asked me why, I just went on and told her. De Fabriek Eindhoven (NL)
2015: Hauptsage Schwierig. Electron Breda (NL)
Events / curating
2025: BILLBOARD. Iroiro, by Solveig Sumire Sandvik and Borghild Rudjord Unneland
2024: BILLBOARD POSTERBOARD by Laura Gaiger & Charlotte Besuijen. Poster design and curating by Charlotte Besuijen
2024: BILLBOARD BERG by Sveinung Rudjord Unneland. Curating, deverloping and poster design by Charlotte Besuijen
2023: Movie and experimental pizza night. Organized together with Borghild Rudjord Unneland and Fergus Tibbs in collaboration with Den Uferdige Institusjonen Laksevåg, Bergen.
2023: Dinner and movie in collaboration with den uferdige Institusjon Laksevåg, Bergen.
Teaching
2024: Bergen Arkitekt Skole: Teaching two days with second year BAS students.
2024: Bergen Arkitekt Skole: Teaching five days with second year BAS students
2023: Bergen Arkitekt Skole: Teaching two days with second year BAS students.
2023: Bergen Arkitekt Skole: Teaching five days with second year BAS students.
Grants
2024: Working stipend 1 year. Norwegian Artists association (Vederlagsfondet)
2022: Diversestipend for newly graduated artists. Norwegian culture council (kulturrådet)
2020: Young talent cultuurfondsbeurs. Cultuurfonds Amsterdam (NL)
Awards
2022: Trykkeriet Print award, Trykkeriet Bergen (NO)
Text/publication/ illustration
2026: Upcoming: Dinner and Movie, collected posters made by Charlotte Besuijen.
Zine published by den uferdige presse Bergen (NO)
2024: Floating Creature (OFF PARTS) by Charlotte Besuijen. Included in Ship of Theseus Murf Murw Magazine for experimental art, music, film and performance. Murf Murw festival. Tilburg (NL)
2024: Illustration for the book Mediation on X. Text by Brandon LaBelle. den uferdige presse forlag. Book launch at Entrée Bergen (NO)
2020: Nothing but good, About the work Transi (2020) and the bombe of Brederode in the Grote Kerk Vianen, Webarticle.
2017: www.galeries.nl Kunst van de dag webarticle. Written by Loek Grootjans about the work of Charlotte Besuijen
2016: Observation about the work Gestalte (1992) by Esma Yiğitoğlu at THE BACK ROOM, TENT Rotterdam (NL)