Marjolein Guldentops – from being to doing

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For most people, language is a natural means of communication, whereas for Marjolein Guldentops, language has taken a significant place in her life in the form of poetry and other wordplays. In her drawings, she focuses on constructed wordplay, transforming nouns into verbs to prompt viewers to contemplate their own existence and actions.

Using just four pencils of varying hardness grades, Guldentops creates drawings on paper that initially resemble printed text. This idea emerged when her printer produced a low-quality print with uneven lines and color gradations, highlighting technology’s imperfections. However, machines also excel in consistently shaping letters perfectly. The phrases on her drawings, such as „drivers (over) drive“ or „doers (un) doing,“ are blank sections in a computer font, lined up one below the other. Due to the challenge of recreating this font by hand and applying background shades of grey, she strives to depict the perfect letter shape while acknowledging the evident strokes of her hand, blurring the line between machine precision and human imperfection.

In her works, Guldentops not only focuses on language but also on its visual representation in writing. Script is not only language but also a form of imagery. In many artistic disciplines, typeface plays a crucial role, as the diversity of its typographic forms allows a wide scope of interpretation and impact. The choice of font and the arrangement of letters, words, and entire texts contribute to conveying the ideas and messages of artists. Script is more than just a narrative of content. By integrating imagery, it becomes a more complex and versatile tool capable of conveying much more besides the obvious content. The way in which words and signs are visualised or deliberately not visualised can change their significance and impart additional, profound meanings.

Through wordplay, Guldentops explores the interaction between people and their environment. She draws inspiration from various philosophical approaches, including that of Donna J. Haraway. The US-American science theorist argues that humans not only shape their surroundings but are also continuously shaped by them.[1] Additionally, Guldentops refers to other approaches that explain actions as embodied practices arising from experiences and interactions. We perform most of our everyday actions, such as driving a car, washing the dishes, or riding a bike, without much conscious thought. Hence, we function on autopilot for most of our time. Guldentops‘ works call on us to become aware of these actions. In addition to this form of awareness-raising, she has created another series of drawings. The short sentences „being here“, „being there“, and „being aware“ are interconnected and relate to each other. Reading the words „being here“ prompts the audience to become more aware of the here and now and the mere existence – thus becoming „aware.“ Marjolein Guldentops‘ ambiguous wordplays leave room for each individual to reflect on their own reality and, through their simplicity, allow for a vast spectrum of individual interpretation.

Text: Luca Sophie Hillbrands

Source: [1] Donna J. Haraway: Vivre Avec Le Trouble, MONDES A FAIRE (2020)

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Marjolein Guldentops

Marjolein Guldentops is a multidisciplinary artist from Belgium. In her practice she delves into the interplay between language, place, and urban rhythms, incorporating graphic and typographic elements, spatial compositions, and song-like sequences. She engages with a diverse range of linguistic systems, leveraging the ambiguity and conventionality of language to convey multiple layers of meaning and interpretation. Her work take on various forms, spanning performance, drawing, publication, and installation.

Instagram: @marjolein_guldentops

Website: https://www.marjoleinguldentops.com/