Rademakers Gallery | Martijn Hesseling

Martijn Hesseling is a Dutch artist whose work explores the relationship between material, image, and time. Based in the Netherlands, he is known for his intricate compositions constructed from newspaper and lacquer, through which he redefines traditional approaches to painting. By transforming everyday materials into layered, luminous surfaces, his work operates at the intersection of image, object, and process.

A defining aspect of Hesseling’s practice is his distinctive technique. Working on a transparent plexiglass surface, he builds each composition in reverse, assembling carefully cut fragments of newspaper from back to front. Through the application of lacquer, the negative spaces of the paper become transparent, while printed text and imagery remain visible. This interplay between opacity and transparency creates a complex visual structure in which light, depth, and surface continuously interact.

The use of newspaper is central to the conceptual foundation of his work. Introduced during his postgraduate studies, this material offered an alternative to paint, allowing him to engage more directly with the passage of time. Newspaper, as a medium of daily information and constant renewal, carries both immediacy and transience. Within his compositions, text remains legible, inviting the viewer to shift between reading and viewing. From a distance, the works appear as cohesive images; up close, they dissolve into fragments of language and image, revealing multiple layers of meaning.

Light plays an essential role in the perception of his work. Because the compositions are constructed on transparent surfaces, the wall behind becomes part of the image. This integration allows light to pass through the work, creating a subtle luminosity and an impression of depth that extends beyond the physical surface. The result is a visual experience that appears to emanate from within the piece itself.

Hesseling’s work is characterized by a balance between control and openness. While the process is precise and methodical, the material retains its own visual language, shaped by typography, imagery, and fragmentation. This tension between structure and chance contributes to the dynamic quality of his compositions, positioning his work within a broader exploration of perception, time, and material transformation.