LISSE.- The LAM museum has acquired Sprinkle Carpet, a unique installation by the artist collective We Make Carpets. Composed of brightly coloured sprinkles arranged in a decorative pattern, the artwork is remarkably delicate. Even the slightest movement could transform it into nothing more than a pile of ordinary food sprinkles, commonly used as a topping for breakfast sandwiches in the Netherlands. The acquisition is now on display at the LAM museum on the Keukenhof Estate in Lisse as part of its visual arts exhibition exploring the theme of breakfast.

From Peanut-Butter Platform to Sprinkle Carpet

Though much smaller in scale, We Make Carpets’ Sprinkle Carpet calls to mind Wim T Schippers’ controversial Peanut-Butter Platform. However, there’s a significant difference: while Schippers aimed to shake visitors up in the late 1960s, We Make Carpets seeks to inspire wonder for the everyday.

Everyday beauty

All of We Make Carpets’ installations feature overwhelming, decorative patterns when viewed from afar. Upon closer inspection, visitors can see that they are made of everyday materials that are rarely, if ever, given such careful attention. The collective explains, “We want to encourage people to look at mass-produced, everyday objects in a new light and to appreciate their beauty. You don’t buy sprinkles because they are pretty, but they are.”

Unique pattern

The LAM museum’s acquisition dates back to 2013. This will be the first time in 12 years that the piece will be on display, and on this occasion, it will feature a fresh pattern. For We Make Carpets, each design is only ever used once. Every time the installation is displayed, the sprinkles are meticulously arranged in a new pattern, piece by piece. The artwork will be installed by one of the artists from We Make Carpets the first three times it is displayed at the LAM. After that, the museum will receive detailed specifications to create future installations of Sprinkle Carpet.

Essence

We Make Carpets is thrilled with the sale and says, “The LAM museum acquiring Sprinkle Carpet means a lot to us. We created this installation early in our career as a collective. Since then, our pieces have evolved to become larger and more complex. Sprinkle Carpet captures the essence of our work — an exploration of form and colour using an everyday material tailored to a specific location.”

We Make Carpets

The Dutch artist collective We Make Carpets consists of Bob Waardenburg, Marcia Nolte and Stijn van der Vleuten. Since 2009, the trio has been creating installations from everyday objects and materials such as pasta, mustard seeds, scouring pads and skewers. Their artworks, ranging from towering installations to delicate designs, have been exhibited in museums worldwide, from Australia to the United States. Sprinkle Carpet at the LAM museum measures just 12 x 17 cm. Despite its small size, the process of creating the artwork is intense. “The large pieces are challenging, but the small ones perhaps even more so. You feel the tension in your whole body”, explains Marcia Nolte.

Breakfast

The acquisition from We Make Carpets is now on display as part of the LAM museum’s breakfast-themed exhibition. It is showcased alongside works by Martin Parr, Elspeth Diederix, Ana Navas, Rafaël Rozendaal, Jennifer Levonian, Navid Nuur, Magali Reus, Renzo Martens, Alicia Framis, Ron Mueck and Alexandre Lavet.

Simply special art

With its international art collection dedicated to food and consumption, the LAM museum on the Keukenhof Estate in Lisse offers fresh perspectives on everyday objects. The Viewing Coaches are a unique concept. They bring each work of art to life by providing visitors with personalised viewing tips.