Martin Gobert

These specific foldable chairs are typically rented for temporary usage, such as events. Following this logic, I’ve decided to list my chair for rent on Marktplaats during the exhibition period. I was curious to know what someone would use this single chair for. It was an excuse to create an interaction with a stranger, and potentially record how the chair would be used.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Documentation by Sophie Leyendeker.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Glitter image printed on concrete blocks found in Amiens. Documentation by Sophie Leyendeker.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Glitter image printed on concrete blocks found in Amiens. Documentation by Sophie Leyendeker.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Glitter image printed on concrete blocks found in Amiens. Documentation by Sophie Leyendeker.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Souvenir T-shirts sold during the exhibition.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Souvenir T-shirts sold during the exhibition.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Souvenir T-shirts sold during the exhibition.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Souvenir T-shirts sold during the exhibition.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name! Publication printed in Amiens. Documentation by Sophie Leyendeker.

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name!

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name!

Amiens is my hometown. Situated in the north of France, it is the 27th biggest city in the country. It is a proper city, but not big enough to be popular. Since I was little, I grew up with the idea that being from Amiens was not cool; I was ashamed of coming from the provinces. As soon as I had the opportunity, I didn't hesitate to move to Paris, and then to The Hague. I was in search of a place where I could finally be cool as well. After 5 years away from my hometown, I missed it; it missed me. I had to go back. I had understood that there's nothing cooler than being proud of where you come from. In the past months, I've made several trips to Amiens: Observing the streets, interacting with the people, collecting concrete, in search of a reconnection with my city. This project is about a love/hate relationship. It is about turning shame into power. It is about finding beauty in the dirt. This project is an ode to my hometown. AMIENS, remember this name!

Roasted chicken picture screen printed on the French national football jersey.

Cut-out board 3. Installation for the project "Look at me, I am a flake lost in the snow". I transformed my family pictures into cut-out boards, allowing the audience to place their face in my picture. My memories become theirs.

Cut-out board 2. Installation for the project "Look at me, I am a flake lost in the snow". I transformed my family pictures into cut-out boards, allowing the audience to place their face in my picture. My memories become theirs.

Cut-out board 1. Installation for the project "Look at me, I am a flake lost in the snow". I transformed my family pictures into cut-out boards, allowing the audience to place their face in my picture. My memories become theirs.

Image from the project "Look at me, I am a flake lost in the snow". Found footage from second-hand cameras bought in Kringloops. I photoshopped the face of my family on stranger's family pictures.

Image from the project "Look at me, I am a flake lost in the snow". Found footage from second-hand cameras bought in Kringloops. I photoshopped the face of my family on stranger's family pictures.

This project comes from my fascination with family photography. For many of us, it is quite boring to look at family photographs, especially if they are not of your family. This practice is indeed more about remembering a specific moment in time rather than taking a beautiful picture. To me, however, it is a gold mine. Family photography is a great way to investigate human behavior and observe what we consider worth remembering. Since a few months, I have been buying SD cards from digital compact cameras that I could find in second-hand shops. I was looking for the memories of strangers. The more SD cards I collected, the more I realized that all the photographs were similar. After comparing them to the images taken by my family during my childhood, I came to the realization that we all want to remember the same moments: holidays, celebrations…in short, pure moments of ‘joy’ with our family. With this work, I try to figure out how unique our lives are and reflect on the ironic model of remembering. Spread from the fictional family album publication. Edition of 7.

Since I remember, I have always known my mom with the same haircut. She has had the same color and hairstyle for at least 20 years. I already asked her why is she keeping this specific haircut? My mom answered that if she changes it, she would not be the same person anymore. I like to believe that if she keeps this haircut, it is because it gives her some superpowers, and if she changes it, she will lose them. So I decided to go to the hair salon with my mom and ask for the same haircut. Maybe I will also get some superpowers!

Since I remember, I have always known my mom with the same haircut. She has had the same color and hairstyle for at least 20 years. I already asked her why is she keeping this specific haircut? My mom answered that if she changes it, she would not be the same person anymore. I like to believe that if she keeps this haircut, it is because it gives her some superpowers, and if she changes it, she will lose them. So I decided to go to the hair salon with my mom and ask for the same haircut. Maybe I will also get some superpowers!

Since I remember, I have always known my mom with the same haircut. She has had the same color and hairstyle for at least 20 years. I already asked her why is she keeping this specific haircut? My mom answered that if she changes it, she would not be the same person anymore. I like to believe that if she keeps this haircut, it is because it gives her some superpowers, and if she changes it, she will lose them. So I decided to go to the hair salon with my mom and ask for the same haircut. Maybe I will also get some superpowers! Publication cover.

Since I remember, I have always known my mom with the same haircut. She has had the same color and hairstyle for at least 20 years. I already asked her why is she keeping this specific haircut? My mom answered that if she changes it, she would not be the same person anymore. I like to believe that if she keeps this haircut, it is because it gives her some superpowers, and if she changes it, she will lose them. So I decided to go to the hair salon with my mom and ask for the same haircut. Maybe I will also get some superpowers! Publication in which the audience could draw a new haircut for my mom.

Why do we take pictures of ourselves in front of tourist attractions? From the moment that traveling photography came in, the need to be photographed in specific places became a phenomenon. Through my family travels, I became fascinated by tourist photos, a tradition that I never fully understood. To try to find this answer, I decided to disguise myself as the ultimate tourist in Köln. By asking people to take pictures of me, I am exploring this tradition perpetuated by my family.

Why do we take pictures of ourselves in front of tourist attractions? From the moment that traveling photography came in, the need to be photographed in specific places became a phenomenon. Through my family travels, I became fascinated by tourist photos, a tradition that I never fully understood. To try to find this answer, I decided to disguise myself as the ultimate tourist in Köln. By asking people to take pictures of me, I am exploring this tradition perpetuated by my family.

Why do we take pictures of ourselves in front of tourist attractions? From the moment that traveling photography came in, the need to be photographed in specific places became a phenomenon. Through my family travels, I became fascinated by tourist photos, a tradition that I never fully understood. To try to find this answer, I decided to disguise myself as the ultimate tourist in Köln. By asking people to take pictures of me, I am exploring this tradition perpetuated by my family.

Why do we take pictures of ourselves in front of tourist attractions? From the moment that traveling photography came in, the need to be photographed in specific places became a phenomenon. Through my family travels, I became fascinated by tourist photos, a tradition that I never fully understood. To try to find this answer, I decided to disguise myself as the ultimate tourist in Köln. By asking people to take pictures of me, I am exploring this tradition perpetuated by my family.

Video-still of the performance "Draw Your Dreams" made in collaboration with Lucy Gengler in 2022. For 7 days, Lucy and Martin slept with custom-made gloves with water-based markers attached to each finger.

This blanket shows the result of the performance "Draw Your Dreams" made in collaboration with Lucy Gengler in 2022. For 7 days, Lucy and Martin slept with custom-made gloves with water-based markers attached to each finger.

This drawing was made during the video performance "Drawing the Dutch Landscape", which took place in Den Haag in 2022.

video performance "Drawing the Dutch Landscape", which took place in Den Haag in 2022.