Seaweed p.4 Print

Naomi Mitsuko Makkelie (1992) explores the meaning, ethics, and value of immortality in her paintings. She presents a personal perspective on this topic, while also acknowledging that she is only a small part of a larger universe. By investigating the ways in which the future, present, and past intersect and influence each other on a historical, scientific, and cultural level, Makkelie's work delves into the interpretation of culture. It is difficult to view artwork without a biased interpretation, but Makkelie embraces this challenge and plays with the perception of her work, which is often influenced by her Japanese background. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Makkelie has been creating paintings and drawings inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) and has been making autobiographical works about what it is like to live in this era. Makkelie believes it is important for art and literature to document the past years, so that people in the future can understand what it was like to live during this time. This creates a different picture than the one presented by the media, which may be influenced by propaganda. What fascinates Makkelie about history is how much of it is unsubstantiated and based on fantasy and fairy tales. This makes her ponder the potential for art to contribute to the pollution of historical information. Makkelie believes that art should offer different personal truths to coexist and that it should critically engage with media and society. She feels that art has recently been lagging behind society more than it is innovating and that this should change. Naomi was born in Amsterdam and graduated Cum Laude at HKU in Utrecht. After graduation she did a master at Frank Mohr in Groningen. She also studied psychology at the University of Amsterdam. In 2018 she won the Buning Brongers Prize after graduating and was nominated for the Royal Prize of Painting. In 2023 she received the Artist Start Grant (22.000 euro for one year) from Mondriaan Fund and she started a residency at Treehouse NDSM, her studio is based here too. She started a role as Curator for Carwash Gallery and started teaching Painting Workshops 'Timeless Tales Through Wall Painting' at Treehouse NDSM and is sponsored by I AMsterdam, which is part of a global project 'From Caves to Canvas' with the aim of documenting contemporary society through a series of murals.