Mixed Media Wood/Acryl, 2019, 54 x 15 x 15 CM

Tourist Souvenir as Art Object
This mixed media sculpture by Mart Visser is a layered and thought-provoking artwork that elevates a common tourist souvenir into a powerful artistic statement. The original object, an African head figurine, often found in markets or souvenir shops, is removed from its conventional context. By placing it on a solid stone pedestal and vertically bisecting it with a transparent acrylic sheet, Visser disrupts the way we casually view such items. This intervention not only enhances the visual appeal of the object but also raises deeper questions about cultural representation, authenticity, and the role of the viewer.

Visser’s Critical Reflection on Culture and Consumption
Mart Visser challenges us to reconsider the boundaries between art and kitsch, between meaning and mass production. The vertical acrylic panel acts as a symbolic barrier, both separating and connecting. It literally slices the head in two, referencing how Western consumer culture often fragments and commodifies elements of other cultures, stripping them of their original context. The choice of materials, stone, wood or resin, and plastic, creates a tension between permanence and impermanence, between heritage and disposability. Visser’s minimalist and geometric composition lends visual clarity that amplifies the conceptual depth of the piece. The sculpture is quiet yet confrontational, simple in form but rich in meaning. It functions as both critique and invitation, to reflect on what we collect, why we collect it, and what that reveals about ourselves. In doing so, Visser transforms a humble souvenir into a mirror reflecting complex dynamics of identity, ownership, and cultural interpretation.The sculpture invites conversation in an interior and can be placed on a plinth or as a conversation piece on a desk.