Man with Giraffe by Maarten Wendrich

Man with Giraffe is initially a design by Maarten Wendrich, later painted on the wall by Painture Collective (Marjin Gronert and Wessel Heiji). Maarten did this design with his favorite technique, Linoleum print, carving the surface until he got the Man with Giraffe. This artwork, like many others from this artist, is a self-portrait. It is very common for Maarten to represent himself with the Adidas jacket, and the reason for that remains unknown. The reason why Maarten Wendrich chose to portray himself as Man with a giraffe stems from his shy personality. When asked why he portrayed himself on top of such an animal, he explained that it seemed a good idea to escape socializing. Nothing is better for that than a giraffe’s neck, known for remaining taller than what surrounds it.

The spot chosen for this mural was a perfect association with the story of Blijdorp Zoo (although the intention for it didn’t come from the artist): the artwork is in the same zone as the old Blijdorp Zoo, which happens to be a place with an interesting story, that also relates to the story of Rotterdam itself. To learn more about it, you can click here to learn the story behind the sculpture that shares the same space as this mural.

About the artist:

Maarten, born in 1966, began showcasing his work at Herenplaats in 2012. His dedication to his craft is evident in his mastery of the linoleum print technique. This method involves carving the surface until only the lines remain for printing. Among the various methods he can execute, this is the one he has chosen to perfect. His illustrations often portray daily life scenes, always featuring himself as the main character in numerous situations, oscillating between normality and imagination. His work expresses the complexities of the psychiatric world and the human mind with a comical touch.

About Outsider Art and Galerie Atelier Herenplaats:

Outsider Art, also known as Arte Brute, emerges from individuals who break away from the rules of art academies and often create without social constraints. This art form typically showcases an unpolished and raw appearance. It comes directly from the inner self of the artist, without passing through a “filter” of quality and conceptualization, resulting in a very individual style that doesn’t fit the traditional art standards. A few examples of outsider art are people who belong to culturally isolated groups, such as children, psychiatric patients, prisoners, or homeless people. In the case of Herenplaats, they dedicate their formation to people with intellectual disability or psychiatric backgrounds. The atelier adapts to their necessities, where the employees are trained in art, teaching/and social work.