Galerie Bart is proud to present Marleen Sleeuwits’ solo exhibition Re-Surface, in which she reflects on our relationship with inconspicuous places and materials — spaces we pass by daily without really seeing them. For this exhibition, she focuses in particular on the suspended ceiling — a material we often encounter but rarely truly notice. Marleen is fascinated by its contradictory nature. Usually, the material is labelled as “ugly” or “cheap”, yet it is widely used in our environment. With Re-Surface, Marleen colourfully invites the visitor to reflect on our living environment: in what kind of setting and decor does our life take place, and how do we relate to it?
In her work, Marleen twists the perceptible reality of these spaces by enlarging, multiplying, painting or pasting elements. Using moulds and casts, she creates diverse, colourful reproductions, blurring the line between what is “real” and what is not. For her, this is a way of breaking free from an environment that is quickly taken for granted. The works in Re-Surface are presented in neon-coloured Plexiglas containers, making them reminiscent of relics from the future.
The moulds bear clear similarities to her photographic works: both reproduce a surface, which can be replicated infinitely. In addition to this Series of Ongoing False Ceilings, a number of other works are on display. The photo series Interior no. 72 to 74 is based on an installation Marleen made in 2003 for Galerie Sous les Étoiles in New York. The structures of the installation, lined with mirrors, created the impression that they continued infinitely in space. This effect was reproduced in the series by using an orange mirrored surface.
With Re-Surface, Marleen takes a closer look at the lifespan of temporary materials. Where do they end up after being discarded? She also investigates the influence of these materials on our behaviour and perception. Their uniform and anonymous character can be seen as a backdrop of modernity. How do we relate to the artificial and the reproducible in our environment?
• More about Marleen Sleeuwits
Special Events
22.05.2025 / 17:00 – 21:00: Festive opening ‘Re-Surface’
25.05.2025 / 13:00 – 15:00: Special Event: Performance + Artist Talk
