The art of the artist duo Idiots, made up by Afke Golsteijn and Floris Bakker, is characterized by the use of animal material that is carefully patched up and put into significant positions, combined with rich materials such as embroidery, pearls and gold. A contemporary touch is given to the classical memento mori concept, questioning the way the world nowadays seems to be determined by nothing else than just marketing. In a constantly twisting play between fantasy and reality Idiots emphasizes the borderline between life and death. The striking beauty and the vividness of the animals that figure in the works provoke an inmeddiate attraction, but directly after the first glance one starts wondering what is going on exactly, thrilled by the perspective of transience that is brought forward. Animals are reborn to remind people of the life they lived, but also to suggest an alternative history, in which they rule the world. The resemblance to the archetypes known from fables and fairy tials is obvious. From a similar moral perspective Idiots criticizes the contemporary way of life, athough the representation of these famous stories is not the duo’s main aspiration. If one can speak of a certain objective in Idiots’ art it is to bring people closer to an honest perception of reality pictured through a lens of critical fantasy. (text by artkitchen)

"NO COMMENT" (2006)
dimensions: 50 x 40 x 12 cm. materials: taxdermy muntjac, crystals
(in private collection)



http://www.idiots.nl/work/images_large/muntjak.jpg


"JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL" (2006)
dimensions: 70 x 40 x 15 cm. materials: taxdermy seagull, forged iron
(in private collection Verbeke Foundation)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/images_large/JonathanLivingstonSeagull.jpg


"OPHELIA" (2005)
dimensions: 235 x 80 x 80 cm. materials: taxdermy lion, ceramics / glass
in collection, national museum oslo

http://www.idiots.nl/work/images_large/EKWC1.jpg

"NO TITLE, NO STATUS" (2007)
dimensions: 200 x 300 x 70 cm. in exhibition now

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http://www.idiots.nl/work/images_large/kalf2.jpg

"EVE" (2006)
dimensions: 140 x 80 x 80 cm. materials: silk, embroidery, crystals, glass ribcage, wood




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"HANGJONGERE" (2007)
materials: taxdermy squirrel, hoody

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just click the image to enlarge

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Vaarwel_1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAREWELL) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Vaarwel_2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAREWELL%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Vaarwel_3.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAREWELL%21%21)
"Farewell" (2006)
dimensions: 120 x 60 x 50 cm. materials: taxdermy swan, transparant glass / black glass

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Rabbit.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RABBITEARS)
"RABBIT WITH EMBROIDERED EARS" (2006)
dimensions: 30 x 20 x 15 cm. materials: taxdermy rabbit, embroidery
in corporate collection (Flexa)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/gier1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=CORPSEBRIDE) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/gier2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=CORPSEBRIDE%21)
"CORPSE BIDE" VULTURE WITH VICTIM (2006)
dimensions: 130 x 80 x 85 cm. materials: taxdermy vulture, forged iron, pearls, textile

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/doods_1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=SKULL) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/doods_2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=SKULL%21)
"INDUSTRIAL EVOLUTION II" (2006)
dimensions: 50 x 30 x 30 cm. materials: forged iron, textile, embroidery. in private collection.

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/hare.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=SLEEPING-HARE)
"SLEEPING HARE" (2004)
dimensions: 60 x 50 x 15 cm. in private collection.

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Peacock.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=PEACOCK)
"THIS SEAT IS TAKEN"
(2007)
in exhibition now



http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a01.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKEEVOLUTION1)
"FAKE EVOLUTION I" (2007)
materials: taxdermy bird, glass, red beads, industrial tool

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a06.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=INDUSTRIALEVOLUTION1.1) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a07.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=INDUSTRIALEVOLUTION1.2) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a08.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=INDUSTRIALEVOLUTION1.3)
"INDUSTRIAL EVOLUTION I" (2007)
materials: taxdermy bird, embroidery, forged iron

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Image_0158.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=LITTLEBIRD)
"LITTLE BIRD" (2007)
materials: taxdermy birds, glass

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a13.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKE3) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a12.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKE4) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a11.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKE5)
"FAKE III-V" (2007)
materials: taxdermy birds, glass

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/egg1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=EGG1) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/egg2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=EGG2) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/egg3.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=EGG3)
"EGG I-III" (2008)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/OwlWithPelletNecklace1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=OWL) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/OwlWithPelletNecklace.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=OWL%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/OwlWithPelletNecklace2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=OWL%21%21)
"OWL WITH PELLET NECKLACE" (2003)
dimensions: 70 x 15 x 15 cm. materials: taxedermy owl (not for sale), glass, feathers and little treasures

just click the image to enlarge (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW7)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new7.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW7) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new6.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW6) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new2.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW2)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW1) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new5.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW5) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new4.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW4)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new3.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW3) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new8.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW8) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/new9.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEW9)

LATEST WORKS (2008)

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Fake0.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKE) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Fake1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=FAKE%21)
"FAKE" (2004)
dimensions: 30 x 15 x 10 cm. (both) materials: glass, bird in private collection.


http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/foto_a03.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=DONOTPET%21)
"NIET AAIEN! (DO NOT PET!)" (2006)
dimensions: 30 x 20 x 15 cm. materials: taxdermy hedgehog, pins, antique wheels

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_006.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=MADHATTER) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_007.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=MADHATTER%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_008.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=MADHATTER%21%21)
"MAD HATTER" (2003)
dimensions: 15 x 15 x 15 cm. materials: hare, silver earpieces (rabbit's head and feet)
in private collection, iris eichenberg

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_020.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=STOMACH) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_021.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=STOMACH%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_022.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=STOMACH%21%21)
In Exhibition http://www.idiots.nl/work/images/blank.gif
Detail "LOST LOVE" (2003)
dimensions: 60 x 40 x 25 cm.
materials: dead butterflies in glass stomach.
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_009.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=PROTECTED)
"PROTECTED?" (2003)
dimensions: 60 x 60 x 60 cm. materials: mouse, glass hermin, fur kingsrobe
destroyed by the artist

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_012.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=DONORBIRD) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_013.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=DONORBIRD%21)
"DONORBIRD" (2003)
dimensions: 20 x 15 x 5 cm. materials: glass bird with silver organ necklace
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_015.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=BACKBONE) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_019.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=BACKBONE%21)
"SHIRT WITH EMBROIDED BACKBONE" (2003)
in private collections

"CROW WITH EMBROIDERED" (2003)
dimensions: 40 x 40 x 15 cm.
in private collection, ruben taneja

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_002.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=SWAN)
"SWAN WITH HUMAN HEART OF GLASS" (2003)
dimensions: 120 x 80 x 50 cm. materials: taxedermy swan, glass, nutwood vitrine
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_023.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEEDLEWORK) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_024.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEEDLEWORK%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_025.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEEDLEWORK%21%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_026.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=NEEDLEWORK%21%21%21)
http://www.idiots.nl/work/images/blank.gif
In Exhibition "KEEPING THINGS TOGETHER" (2003)
dimensions: 45 x 15 x 10 cm.
materials: bird with needlework.
in private collection, ruudt peters

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_033.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=ROSARY) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_034.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=ROSARY%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_027.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RIBBONS) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_028.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RIBBONS%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_029.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RIBBONS%21)
"A WISHFUL HEART" (2003)
dimensions: 15 x 20 x 15 cm.
materials: glass with silkscreen printed ribbons
in private collection, alet pilon

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_030.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RABBIT) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_031.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RABBIT%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/AfkeGolsteijn_032.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=RABBIT%21%21)
"RABBIT WITH EMBROIDERED EARS" (2003)
dimensions: 30 x 15 x 15 cm.
materials: taxedermy rabbit, embroidery
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/FitsMePerfectly1.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=PERFECTLY) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/FitsMePerfectly.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=PERFECTLY%21) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/OwlWithPelletNecklace3.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=PERFECTLY%21%21)
"FITS ME PERFECTLY" (2004)
dimensions: 130 x 80 x 80 cm. materials: silk, embroidery
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/Winterkoninkje.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=WINTERKONINKJE) http://www.idiots.nl/work/thumbs/BleedingRobbin.jpg (http://www.idiots.nl/work/work.php?work=BLEEDINGROBIN)
"BLEEDING ROBBIN / WINTERKONINKJE" (2004)
dimensions: 17 x 15 x 15 cm. dimensions: 20 x 15 x 15 cm. materials: taxedermy bird, glass
in private collection

http://www.idiots.nl/graphic/cvr04.jpg
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INVITATIONS:
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