Draft:Anne Marie Maes

Maes started with a bachelor graphic design (1974-77) and later a master of fine arts at Luca School of Arts Brussels (1998–2000). To this she added a master in cultural studies at the Free University Brussels (VUB, 2001-02) and a master cultural anthropology, documentary film, sound image culture (SIC, 2008-09). To complete her education she also became a certified herbalist at the European Academy Antwerp (2012-13).

From early on Anne Marie Maes has worked in collaborative ways. Starting as an independent artist in 1997, she created that same year the project space Looking Glass{{Cite web |title=Looking glass |url=https://lookingglass.annemariemaes.net/en/past/index.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=lookingglass.annemariemaes.net}} in Brussels with which she organised various art projects (1997–2004). Her Pix & Motion film production company was active from 1986-2004. This was followed in 2005 by the founding of the artist collective and platform for art and technology OKNO{{Cite web |title=OKNO - Monoskop |url=https://monoskop.org/OKNO |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=monoskop.org}} (active until 2016) that was specifically focussed on digital media and ecology. As a platform for artist collectives, it supported research and networks for MxHz, development and knowledge transmission for Code31 as well as production and presentation for SO-ON.

As a multidisciplinary artist with a background in anthropology and botany,{{Cite web |date=2024-04-05 |title=Matéria de Afinidades: AnneMarie Maes sobre a biofilia na Fundação Casa de Mateus. Lançamento do catálogo e da Umbigo #88 |url=https://umbigomagazine.com/en/blog/2024/04/05/materia-de-afinidades-annemarie-maes-sobre-a-biofilia-na-fundacao-casa-de-mateus-lancamento-do-catalogo-e-da-umbigo-88/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Umbigo |language=en-US}} the current practice of Maes combines art and science{{Cite journal |last1=Dollens |first1=Dennis |last2=Maes |first2=AnneMarie |date=2020-10-01 |title=Dialectics of Nature: Metabolic Architectures Meet Intelligent Guerrilla Beehives |url=https://direct.mit.edu/leon/article-abstract/53/5/563/96945/Dialectics-of-Nature-Metabolic-Architectures-Meet?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=Leonardo |volume=53 |issue=5 |pages=563–570 |doi=10.1162/leon_a_01770 |issn=0024-094X}}. In this she explores the symbiotic relationship between the human and non-human in nature and (bio)technology. Particularly interested in ecosystems and alchemical processes, Maes works with various biomaterials, digital media, living organisms but also performance. She develops her art through art residencies and collaborations with international science and fablabs. For this she regularly collaborates with scientists and other artists. In her practice she's very much interested in DIY technology and alternative research methods. Central to her work was her creation of a large experimental rooftop garden, Hortus Experimentalis (2008-ongoing){{Cite web |last= |title=Anne Marie Maes transforme la Kunsthalle en laboratoire d'expériences |url=https://www.mouvement.net/anne-marie-maes |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=mouvement}}{{Cite web |last=cda |date=2018-04-22 |title=Nouveau talent : Le nouveau monde d'AnneMarie Maes |url=https://www.connaissancedesarts.com/arts-expositions/nouveau-talent-le-nouveau-monde-dannemarie-maes-1193383/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Connaissance des Arts |language=fr-FR}}, on top of a parking building in the centre of Brussels that functions as her personal field laboratory for her research and work on bees, plants and bacteria.

File:OrigineDuMonde 2 web.jpg

File:Maes-Hortus experimentalis.jpg

The framework for her work is formed by several long-running research projects such as Connected Open Greens, Bee Agency and Laboratory for Form and Matter that are all interconnected.

The Lab as a form of workspace, library or Wunderkammer, is a place of study and artistic production, using various techniques and outcomes. These can become art projects in themselves that apart from an artistic and aesthetic quality, also have scientific and social meaning. The Transparant Beehive (2014) or the Intelligent Guerilla Beehives are not only art works, but they gather or make use of data on the bees behaviour that can be used to protect them. Sensorial Skins is a project that investigates the sculptural potential of organic material which is transformed into several formats such as fabrics (tapestries), membranes and biofilms. The sculpture L'origine du monde (2020) is one of Maes' bacterial works that poetically represent her extensive research into fermentation processes, cyanobacteria and microalgae. The Theatrum algaerium (2021-ongoing) consists of performances and installations that since 2021 operates on the border of sapiens and fauna.{{Cite web |last=Bianchi |first=Valentina |title=Bees and bacteria in art making: an interview with AnneMarie Maes |url=https://kiculture.medium.com/bees-and-bacteria-in-art-making-an-interview-with-annemarie-maes-bb33c9e72104 |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=|date=31 January 2022 }}

Maes has been awarded several international prizes and mentions, amongst which the Honorary Mention Hybrid Arts, Ars Electronica Linz in 2017 for her project Intelligent Guerilla Beehive.{{Cite web |title=Intelligent Guerrilla Beehive research |url=https://ars.electronica.art/outofthebox/en/guerrilla-beehive/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Out of the Box |language=en-US}}

Since 2010 her work has been shown frequently in international solo and group shows in Europe, the United States, Argentina, Brazil and India.{{Cite web |last=Kunstenpunt |first=Databank {{!}} |title=AnneMarie Maes |url=https://databank.kunsten.be/en/audiovisual-and-visual-arts/artists-curators-critics-and-essay-writers/ent:kwb:age:Q116617/annemarie-maes/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Databank {{!}} Kunstenpunt |language=en}}

Her work forms part of several public collections.

Maes regularly is an artist in residence at international research centres and art institutions such as Hybrid Forms Lab{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Artscience Lab Hybrid Forms |url=https://hybridformslab.com/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Artscience Lab Hybrid Forms |language=en}} (VU Amsterdam), Open Biolab Brussels, BioHackLab Barcelona, Fab Textiles (IAAC Barcelona),TexttielLab Tilburg{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://textiellab.nl/en/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=TextielLab |language=en-US}} and the Mateus Foundation.

Magical Realism, group show, Wiels Brussels, BE, 29 May – 28 September 2025{{Cite web |title=WIELS {{!}} Magical Realism |url=https://www.wiels.org/en/exhibitions/magical-realism |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=WIELS |language=en-BE}}

• Matter of Kinship, Mateus Labs Fundaçao da Casa de Mateus, Vila Real, PT (2023){{Cite web |title=MATTER OF KINSHIP {{!}} ANNE MARIE MAES |url=https://www.casademateus.pt/en/evento-e-programa/annemarie-maes-exhibition/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.casademateus.pt |language=en}}
• Alchimia Nova, La Kunsthalle Mulhouse, Mulhouse, FR (2023){{Cite web |title=Alchimia Nova - Anne Marie Maes |url=https://kunsthallemulhouse.com/evenement/alchimia-nova-anne-marie-maes/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=La Kunsthalle, centre d'art contemporain Mulhouse |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Anne Marie Maes: Alchimia Nova - Announcements - e-flux |url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/511197/anne-marie-maesalchimia-nova/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.e-flux.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Exposition "Alchimia Nova" à Mulhouse : fruits de la science et du hasard, les créations d'Anne Marie Maes célèbrent le vivant |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/arts-expos/exposition-alchimia-nova-a-mulhouse-fruits-de-la-science-et-du-hasard-les-creations-de-l-anne-marie-maes-celebrent-le-vivant_5741249.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |last= |title=Anne Marie Maes transforme la Kunsthalle en laboratoire d'expériences |url=https://www.mouvement.net/arts/anne-marie-maes |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=mouvement}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Anne Marie Maes et Alchimia Nova à la Kunsthalle de Mulhouse - poly.fr |url=https://www.poly.fr/anne-marie-maes-et-alchimia-nova-a-la-kunsthalle-de-mulhouse/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Magazine Poly |language=fr-FR}}
• A Bee is a Bee is a Bee. Réclamer la Terre, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR (2022){{Cite web |title=a bee is a bee is a bee - Palais de Tokyo |url=https://palaisdetokyo.com/en/evenement/a-bee-is-a-bee-is-a-bee/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=palaisdetokyo.com |language=en-US}}
• Theatrum Algaerium, performance, Theater Aan Zee, Ostend, BE (2021){{Cite web |title=THEATRUM ALGAERIUM (2021) {{!}} ANNEMARIEMAES.NET |url=https://annemariemaes.net/works/bee-laboratory-works/2021-theatrum-algaerium-pleasure-island/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |language=en-US}}
• Woven by nature, IMAL, Centre for Digital cultures and technology, Brussels, BE (2021){{Cite web |last=iMAL |date=2021-04-29 |title=Woven by Nature |url=https://www.imal.org/en/events/woven-by-nature |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=iMAL |language=en}}
• Sensorial Skins, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, PILAR art center, Brussels, BE (2021){{Cite web |last=Oyen |first=Rein Van |title=SENSORIAL SKINS + WOVEN BY NATURE — Thu 08 — Fri 23 Apr 2021 — Pilar |url=https://pilar.brussels/en/events/sensorial-skins-woven-by-nature |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=pilar.brussels |language=en}}
• Changing ecologies and changing narratives, Oortreders, Pelt, BE (2020)
• The Intelligent Beehive, IKOB X Meakusma, Ikob Museum of Contemporary Art, Eupen, BE (2020){{Cite web |title=IKOB {{!}} The Bee Agency Project by AnneMarie Maes |url=https://ikob.be/en/veranstaltungen/the-bee-agency-project-by-annemarie-maes |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=ikob.be}}
• ElbBienen - Hamburgmaschine, art in public space, Hamburg, DE (2019){{Cite web |title=14. Kunstflâneur - AnneMarie Maes |url=https://www.kunstflaneur.de/empfehlungen/annemariemaes |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Kunstflâneur - Das Online-Magazin für zeitgenössische Kunst in Hamburg |language=de-DE}}{{Cite book |last=Spaid |first=Sue |title=Hamburg Machine Revisited_Artistic and Critical Investigations into our Digital Condition |publisher=Adocs Verlag |year=2022 |isbn=9783943253405 |location=Hamburg |pages=60–79}}
• Alien Intelligence, Le 46 DIGITAL, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris, FR (2019)

• Hosting, Centrale for contemporary art, Brussels, BE (2024-25){{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=hosting |url=https://centrale.brussels/expos/hosting/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Centrale for contemporary art - Brussel |language=fr-FR}}
• Pollinations, Steede Hoge Woerd, NL (2024)
• The Lives of Animals, MHKA, Antwerp, BE (2024){{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Lives of Animals |url=https://www.muhka.be/en/exhibitions/the-lives-of-animals/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=M HKA |language=en}}
• Cyfest / Vulnerability, CREA - Venice Biennial, IT (2024){{Cite web |title=CYFEST 15: VENICE |url=https://www.cyfest.art/cyfest-15-venice |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=CYFEST |language=en}}
• Wild Renaissance, Galerie Jousse, Paris, FR (2023){{Cite web |title=Renaissance sauvage : la perspective symbiotique |url=https://www.jousse-entreprise.com/art-contemporain/en/expositions/renaissance-sauvage-la-perspective-symbiotique/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Jousse-entreprise {{!}} Art Contemporain |language=en-GB}}
• Second Nature, 10N Menorca, Menorca, ES (2023)
• Symbiosium, Fondation Fiminco, Paris, FR (2023){{Cite web |title=Centre Wallonie Bruxelles {{!}} SYMBIOSIUM Cosmogonies Spéculatives à la Fondation Fiminco - Romainville |url=https://cwb.fr/agenda/symbiosium-cosmogonies-speculatives-a-la-fondation-fiminco-romainville |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=cwb.fr |language=fr}}
• Edenworld, Le Bel Ordinaire, Pau, FR (2023){{Cite web |last=Ordinaire |first=Le Bel |title=Edenworld – art contemporain – Le Bel Ordinaire – 05 avril — 24 juin 2023 |url=https://belordinaire.agglo-pau.fr/expositions/edenworld |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Le Bel Ordinaire |language=fr}}
• Cyfest-14: Ferment, Hayart Center, Yerevan, AM (2022){{Cite web |title=CYFEST-14: YEREVAN |url=https://www.cyfest.art/cyfest-14-yerevan |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=CYFEST |language=en}}
• Biotopia, Pavillon, Namur, BE (2022){{Cite web |last=Buis |first=Sûrya |date=2022-06-20 |title=Biotopia (Namur, expo) • Le Suricate |url=https://www.lesuricate.org/biotopia/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Le Suricate |language=fr-FR}}
• Heures Sauvages, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Paris, FR (2022)
• Abstracte Kunst bestaat niet (Abstract art doesn't exist). Galerie Emergent, Veurne, BE (2021)
• STARTS Residencies 2020, Le Centquatre, Paris, FR (2020){{Cite web |title=Applied photosynthesis X Annemarie Maes {{!}} STARTS |url=https://vertigo.starts.eu/calls/starts-residencies-call-3/residencies/sensorial-skin/detail/index.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=vertigo.starts.eu}}
• Brussels in Songeun: Imagining cities beyond technology 2.0, Seoul, KP (2019)
• For a Brave New Brussels, MAAT (Museum of Art and Technology), Lisbon, PT (2018){{Cite web |date=2018-10-22 |title=Lab#1 For a Brave New Brussels |url=https://www.maat.pt/pt/exhibition/lab1-brave-new-brussels |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=MAAT |language=pt-pt}}
• Eco-Visionaries, HeK (Haus fur Elektronischer Kunst), Basel, CH (2018){{Cite web |title=Eco-Visionaires: Art, Architecture and New Media After the Anthropocene - HEK |url=https://hek.ch/shop/eco-visionaires-art-architecture-and-new-media-after-the-anthropocene/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=hek.ch |language=de}}
• Hiperorganicos - NanoLab, Universitat Federal de Rio de Janeiro, BR (2018)
• Beehave, Fundació Miró, Barcelona, ES (2018){{Cite web |last=Miró |first=Fundació Joan |date=2018-02-16 |title=Beehave {{!}} Exhibitions |url=https://www.fmirobcn.org/en/exhibitions/5728/beehave |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Fundació Joan Miró |language=en}}
• Tendencies, Bozar, Brussels (2017){{Cite web |title=Tendencies {{!}} Bozar Brussels |url=https://www.bozar.be/en/calendar/tendencies-0 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.bozar.be |language=en-BE}}

• Pantone Alsace (installation, 2023) in the collection of the Flemish Community as part of the Belgian national art collection.{{Cite web |title=Pantone Alsace {{!}} Departement Cultuur, Jeugd & Media |url=https://www.vlaanderen.be/cjm/nl/cultuur/cultureel-erfgoed/collectie-van-de-vlaamse-gemeenschap/zoeken/pantone-alsace |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.vlaanderen.be |language=nl}} Kept at Mu.Zee, Ostend, BE.
• Microbial Ancestors (Topography of a second skin) (textile work, 2023) in the collection of the Textile Museum Tilburg, NL.
• Microbial Life (installation, 2023) in the collection of the contemporary art fund [N.A!] Project.
• ElbBienen at Entenwerder, art in public space, Hamburg (created 2019, acquired 2020)
• The Scaffolded Sound Beehive (installation, 2015) in the collection of Klankenbos, Neerpelt, BE.
• Pollinators, Alien Intelligence (2014) in the collection of media art of Foundation Liedts-Meesen, Ghent, BE.
• Closed Circuits #2 (2000) in the collection of the Flemish Community.

Publications in which work by Maes is described:

• 'Beyond the Hybrid – the Intelligent Guerrilla Beehive' in Acoustic Space (Vol. 20): Beyond the Hybrid. Narratives, New Media Experiments, and Speculations Touching Art and Science; Edited by: Lily Díaz-Kommonen, Juhani Tenhunen, Rasa Smite, and Raitis Smits; Published and distributed by: RIXC Center for New Media Culture (Riga, Latvia) in collaboration with Aalto University (Espoo, Finland), 2024; ISBN: 978-9934-9119-1-0
• Matter of Kinship; editors: Elsa Garcia, Oliver Leistert ; authors: Anne Marie Maes, Jonathan Minchin, Luc Steels, Teresa de Albuquerque, Alvaro Garcia de Zúniga ; Stolen Book Portugal, 2024; ISBN: 978-989-35589-0-4
• Hamburg Machine Revisited; editors: Isabella Kohlhuber, Oliver Leistert ; authors: Érik Bordeleau, Michael Dudeck, John Gerrard, Christian Huck, Francis Hunger, Nina Kalenbach, Oliver Leistert, Isabell Lorey, Anne Marie Maes, Britta Peters, Martina Raponi, Marius Skroče, Sue Spaid, Axel Stockburger, The Silent University (Abimbola Ayodele, Salah Zater), Kathrin Wildner, Inga Wellmann.; Adocs Verlag Hamburg, 2022; ISBN: 978-3-943253-40-5

• Volkart, Yvonne in cooperation with Karin Ohlenschläger and Sabine Himmelsbach, 'Ecodata - Ecomedia - Eco-Aesthetics: Technologies of the Ecological after the Anthropocene' in Eco-visionaries - Art, architecture and new media after the anthropocene, editor: Pedro Gadanho; authors: Amale Andraos, TJ Demos, Matthew Fuller, S.Johanson, M.Pestana, Yvonne Volkart, L.Weintraub; Hatje Cantz, 2018; ISBN: 978-3-7757-4453-9, pp. 110-129

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