Graduation show Minerva: How the artist within can save the world

Flag Vests are fluttering on the roof of Minerva Art Academy. On the square in front of the building ‘De Winkelwagen’, a giant shopping cart, touches the sky. ‘XXL Kledinghanger’ , an enormous clothes hanger with a coat made out of bin bags is visible from the windows of the art academy. Marouschka Brian's graduation show installation: //. Werk aan de Winkel // cannot be overlooked by anyone.

Text: Loes Vader 
Photo: Ben Heerspink 

The World is F*cked. That is the underlying tone of the information that is thrown at you every day. Whether it's about the climate, polarisation in politics, our food, our health, consumer culture, identity crises caused by social media or the ever-widening gap between rich and poor. The recent Fine Art and Design in Education graduate Marouschka Brian - also known as MOES - became increasingly gloomy and despondent because of the constant flow of information. She started to wonder: "What does that actually do to us? What does it do to me?"
From there, she started to investigate what the core of the problem is. "I discovered that everyone points at each other. Consumers consume too much, individuals choose political systems, multinationals have the power and the money. That's how I gradually discovered that the system is the culprit. The system that we are part from birth, a system to which we consciously or unconsciously contribute."

Changing the system

Marouschka wanted to discover how she could change the system. "I dived into literature for that. I eventually came to the conclusion that it starts with yourself. I started questioning myself, who am I in this system? Because I also contribute to it." Marouschka came up with an approach that matches the mindset of artists. How the artist within can save the world. "Not necessarily the artist who is in the spotlight, but the artist who lurks within us all. I would like to spark that mindset in myself and in others."

Art education

To stimulate this mindset, Marouschka has created various artistic interventions, within the artistic space within herself and within the public sphere. In the classroom, but also with a group of children at an organisation called Vrijdag. "For me, art education is a space to implement system change. Together we can make a lot of headway. Start with yourself, but realise that you are part of the system. You don't have to carry everything yourself."

Disruption and wonder

Marouscha's final thesis is printed on seventeen meters of paper. It is also part of the installation: //. Werk aan de Winkel //   "It's a big reflection on myself and the system. The giant clothes hanger with the coat of bin bags makes you aware that much of our clothing is made of plastic, just like bin bags. The oversized shopping cart criticises consumerism, but it is a fun and jolly object. It's a conversation starter, I also take it onto the streets. People latch onto it. The flag vests flutter as a silent protest and call for system change. I work a lot with signal colours, because they catch the eye and are a universal symbol for work. I want to radiate that: there is work to be done.

Marouschka made the Lantern Shower as a disruptive element. "Because you can also activate the artist mindset by disrupting people or by arousing wonder. As a result, new neural connections are made in your head, which will give you creative ideas."

So much lighter

For me as an artist and educator, this is my way to deal with my criticism of the system: in a soft and positive way. It’s not a blueprint, there are no ready-made solutions, but it’s an invitation: to look, to experience and to feel. I have deconditioned myself with this work. By using the space that my teachers and the programme offered me, I have developed a different thinking pattern. That feels so much lighter."

Art Education Prize

Marouschka’s thesis The World is F*cked and her installation. //. Werk aan de Winkel // won the Art Education Prize, one of the four Minerva Art Academy Awards.