hans bossmann

the street as a studio, the neighbourhood as a museum

What happens when art is created not behind walls, but in the middle of the street? VanZeggelenart transforms Haarlem-Oost into a living studio. In VanZeggelenart's street studios, local residents and passers-by create works of art using ceramic figurines from the thrift store. Without pretension, in openness to materials, moments, fellow participants and the environment. In 2026, there will be street studios at Martin Luther King Primary School, Stichting Turquiose, Huis van de wijk Hof van Leijh and the Reinaldahuis.

you can follow the project through the Facebook group

the VanZeggelenkunst photo exhibition captures this process in a living room format. It is not a classic exhibition, but a documentary look at a summer in which the neighbourhood unexpectedly became a stage. Art appeared on the pavement, waiting for chance encounters. Some works were admired, others disappeared into an unknown future

this exhibition invites reflection: what does art mean when it is not a possession, but a movement? When it is not fixed in frames, but merges into the world of everyday life? The photo exhibition shows how small gestures – a table on the street, a hand placing a figurine – can surprise a neighbourhood. And bring people together in a relaxed way

the photo exhibition travels through Haarlem East to show everyone who has not been to a street studio what VanZeggelenkunst does

video Haarlem's local broadcaster rtv 105 , made a short (Dutch language) report in 2024 on VanZeggelenArt

video rtv NH, North Holland's regional broadcaster, made a (Dutch language) report in 2022 on VanZeggelenArt

a project in collaboration with Brigit Daamen

client Foundation Squares, Dots + Lines

supported by Culture Stimulation Fund Municipality of Haarlem, Turquoise Foundation

can our love be the artist?

two heads, two hearts, one artist: Mieke Smet & Hans Bossmann are artist duo Studio Love

in corona time our lives, like everyone else’s, took an unexpected turn. We couldn't have imagined that this crisis would open up a new dream world for us: a love relationship that also included an artistic collaboration. Over the past five years, we experimented and played with materials and forms in the studio. We allowed our worlds to merge

the question 'Can our love itself be an artist?’ is the basis of our collaboration. We engage in dialogue about opposites such as “universal-personal”, “intuitive-controlled”, “geometric-organic”. This gives rise to an artistic field in which love is the creative power. In addition to being an emotion, we see love primarily as an independent force – a force that acts, connects and creates

based on love as a creative power, we develop a visual language populated with archetypal figures and forms. The folds, colour gradients and rhythms in our work depict human and natural processes such as growth, change and transience. The works unfold themselves, bear traces of touch and time, they seem to breathe

we develop a secret language, an alphabet. This enables us to create a safe zone in which we can share our love messages. Every individual letter in our secret language can start a life of its own

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on 14 October 2016, small stones were placed on the windowsills in Hingene, a village in the Flemish Waasland region. From that year onwards, the stones will appear on the window sills every year on 14 October. The residents do not know who is behind it or why it is happening

on 14 October 2025, the stones will appear for the 10th time! This time, they were placed by pupils from the Huveneersschool primary school. They prepared their own stones

Hans is making the documentary exhibition “A brief history of Hingene 14 October” (Hingene Community Centre, 15-18 October 2025)

in search of answers, residents of Hingene come to the exhibition: who laid the stones and why? Hans is present and shows his short film “The mystery of the stones” on the big screen in the community centre's cinema

each visitor signs a letter on a cobblestone: a co-created street artwork as a monument to 10 years of “Hingene 14 October”

will stones be laid on the windowsills of the village again on 14 October 2026?

supported by Cultuurcentrum ter Dilft, Bornem (BE) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Brussels (BE)

visitors and participants are invited to draw an insect world together on a white tower during artist fair This Art Fair Amsterdam 2025

the Drawing Dialogues tower at your own (artistic) event? Email Hans

Drawing Dialogues in Amsterdam, Haarlem and Antwerp as a result of a open call by Hans on social media. Rain washed away the drawings

Hans collaborates with Simone de Groot, Klaartje Dullemond, Liesje van den Berk, Jan-Willem Doornenbal, Angela Jarms, Brigit Daamen + Luca, Gulsum Ozgul, ArtTelex, Griet Verschueren, Roelie de Jaeger, Karin de Vylder, Lies van Assche, Tine Godts en Vivianne Cammers

the residents of the Spaarnrijkstraat in Haarlem are invited by Hans to come up with ideas for an urban art event in their own street. After a programme of workshops, brainstorming sessions and excursions, they execute all the plans together on October 7 as a tribute to artist PINK de Thierry (1943-2023). She was born in the Spaarnrijkstraat and in 1983 she performed the project "Video Sketchbook": she lived with her husband and child for 12 days in 12 houses in the Spaarnrijkstraat

following the urban art project with the residents, Hans made the short film: 'Video Sketchbook'. English translation under construction

client Squares, Dots + Lines Foundation

collaboration with Rebup Foundation (Marion van der Vegt) and BaO Foundation (Donald Louw)

supported by Fund for Cultural Participation, Culture Fund, J.C. Ruigrok foundation, Culture Stimulation Fund Municipality of Haarlem, Turquoise Foundation, Rebup,
Squares Dots + Lines

special thanks to Frans Hals Museum Haarlem, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Verhalenhuis Haarlem, residents of the Spaarnrijkstraat Haarlem

Op Dreef Met Zocher is an urban art project in which young people actively relate to the works of art on and around the Dreef in Haarlem. By working with art, culture and nature, young people learn to look differently at their surroundings. This allows them to take more active ownership of their own environment. By creating urban art in their own environment, the street becomes more of the young people themselves

the youth participated in theorie-workshops and exercises in urban art, designing a painting for birdhouses. Workshops on art and language resulted in handwritten letters (with crown pen and ink) to the artists who made the sculptures on the Dreef. Everything culminated in the installation of the birdhouses-artworks on the Dreef and in the Haarlemmer Hout. There they remained all summer.

the exhibition at De Kloostergangen, Grote Markt 2, Haarlem featured not only portraits of the young artists but also their works. Urban art experiments on location, painted birdhouses and collages on display by Lindsey Reijsoo, Kiyan Sadigh Azadi, Aleksandr Sidorenko , Candy Donkor, Caitlynn Edouard, Jaiden Edouard, Barosa Khalaj Hedayati, Madelief Stoevelaar, Danisha Toensi, Ivanna Buniak, Gracia Bosman, Ayman Dahaoui & Walid El Sayed, Whitney De Leon Roa, Roel Ebbinge, Hans Bossmann, Marion van der Vegt

artists of artist society KZOD connect with young people with their work: Eveline JJ, Maria Niessen, Rosa Navarro, Mark Thatcher, Connie Vlasveld

client Squares, Dots + Lines Foundation

collaboration with Marion van der Vegt Rebup Foundation en kunstenaarsvereniging KZOD

supported by Fund for Cultural Participation, Culture Fund, J.C. Ruigrok foundation, Culture Stimulation Fund Municipality of Haarlem, Rebup, Squares Dots + Lines

photo's by Roel Ebbinge and Hans Bossmann

exhibition with artworks created together with the public between 2013 and 2023, from Haarlem (NL) to Antwerp (BE), from Rotterdam (NL) to Brisbane (AU). In ten years, a collection has emerged from which a selection is shown in this extraordinary art space

launched new Drawing Dialogues co-creation projects together with visitors (Antwerp station and self-portraits on mirrors)

artspace Arttelex, Oude Beurs 39, Antwerp, Belgium

Hans offers himself as an artist for sale in a shop window. Buyers can do with him what they did not think possible or dare to do until now. Hans asks: what would you want to do or make if you could do and make anything you wanted?

Hans communicates with passersby via handwritten text signs. Some call him (his no was on the window) or join him in the window to talk options. Many people take a picture or selfie with him in the window

Client Artspace De Vishal Haarlem (NL)

Hans travels through Haarlem for a month with his mobile street studio. He invites passers-by to make or do something together on the spot.

in the street studio is a wide range of materials and tools available for the public to make whatever they want

supported by Culture Stimulation Fund Municipality of Haarlem

the makerspace is a multidisciplinary studio in which participants work with Hans as one artist. It takes place during the summer academy organized by De Veerman and Destelheide. Participants Kris Philips, Karin Ryckaert, Katrien Smeyers, Hedwig Bogaerts and Hans will make people smile in the street

• public interventions in park Koekelberg, Brussels (BE)

• exhibition in the Zoniën Forest, Brussels (BE)

client De Veerman, Antwerpen and Destelheide, Dworp (BE)

from September 2019 to December 2020 Hans is artist in residence at art organization De Veerman

In United Objects, objects are given a new meaning and future in collaboration with the public. The objects come from the Jaap Kruithof Philosophical Collection owned by the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)

in recycling stores, library, community centers and in the MAS museum, Hans, passers-by and visitors draw together squares on square tables. Hans invites the public to take home a Kruithof object to make drawing on it. The participants will come to the MAS with the Kruithof object they made a drawing on, for the exhibition “Reunion of Kruithof Objects”. At the end of this 2-hour exhibition, the Kruithof object-drawings will be left outside on the streets, in the center of Antwerp. From there they will go on to an unknown future

client art organization De Veerman, Antwerp (BE)

samenwerking met De Veerman, cultureel ontmoetingscentrum ‘t Werkhuys, bibliotheek Permeke, Kringwinkels, Ontmoetingscentrum NOVA, MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), Oxot, Antwerpen (BE)

supported by De Veerman, Royal Embassy the Netherlands in Brussels, City of Antwerp (BE)

exhibition with object-drawings from United Objects Antwerp and previous projects in which Hans worked with audiences

client Cultural Meeting Center NOVA, Antwerp (BE)

support of arts organization De Veerman, Royal Embassy Netherlands Brussels, City of Antwerp

book United Objects Antwerp - Dutch language only Publication on the project United Objects Antwerp. The project in words and images in the context of Hans Bossmann's artistic practice. Including short stories about Hans’ experiences and those of participants and bystanders, during the project.

• texts by Tijl Bossuyt, Erik Hagoort and Hans Bossmann

• 100 pages full color, size 17 x 24 cm

• design by Gezeever, Antwerp

open and download the publication as free pdf (Dutch tongue only)

client De Veerman, Antwerp (BE)

supported by De Veerman, Gezeever, City of Antwerp (BE)

students from class 3 of the Stedelijk Gymnasium in Haarlem created a ceramic work of art, exhibited it outdoors in the city center and left it there. Five contemporary artists provided a guest lesson and did the same.

client Kunstlijn Haarlem

collaboration with Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem, Rosa Sijben, Tessa Biemans, Eef Veldkamp, Jeroen Jongeleen, Maarten Bel

supported by Municipality of Haarlem, JC Ruigrokfoundation, Stedelijk Gymnasium Haarlem and foundation Squares, Dots + Lines

theater maker Brecht Hermans and Hans travel into Delfshaven neighborhood with an inclusive group of actors with and without disabilities from Theatre Babel Rotterdam. At fifteen meeting places, together with residents and visitors, they draw on XXL furniture and collect stories about the places, the people and Delfshaven. In short stories, Brecht writes poetic portraits of the encounters. All stories can be found on the website of the project (Dutch tongue only)

through the project, local residents meet each other and find their way to more meeting places in the area. In this way more connection can arise between people and organizations.

clients Foundation Squares Dots + Lines and Theatre Babel Rotterdam

collaboration with Brecht Hermans, Theatre Babel Rotterdam and the meeting places and Kunstblock

supported by VSB Fund, Elize Mathilde Fund, Municipality of Rotterdam, Deltaport Donation Fund

at the library, a neighborhood cafe and a community center in Brisbane, Australia, Hans invites passersby to draw squares and dots together on square tables. He films the encounters with his cell phone

video editor Mirna Ligthart

drawings by young pupils of cultural center ter Dilft, Bornem (BE) were photoshopped by the teachers into large color plates and printed. Hans gets to take one to the Odensehuis in Haarlem. The Odensehuis is a meeting place for people with incipient dementia and their caregivers

volunteers and visitors of the Odensehuis color the drawing and make a nice frame for it. Counsilor for culture Marie-Thérèse Meijs unveils the piece together with Hans on 27-2-2019

client Odensehuis Haarlem

festival Parksessions takes Hans' work as a starting point for the design for edition 2018. Poster, program booklet, website and decor are conceived and designed by the festival team. The team is the artist, Hans may invite the festival audience to signify the larger-than-life set pieces with thick black markers

client Parksessions festival Haarlem

support of artspace De Vishal and office bookstore Muijs Haarlem

with thanks to Loes Pas

a five-week journey through Rotterdam's Oude Westen neighborhood with theater-maker Brecht Hermans. Brecht and Hans take a cart with materials from one meeting place to another. At a dozen meeting places for/by residents they draw abstract patterns on utensils together with residents, volunteers and visitors. At each location, the people who participate write their names on the cart: the Namenkar. In short stories Brecht writes poetic portraits of the encounters. All stories can be found at the project website (Dutch tongue only)

in the first living exhibition, all the objects with drawings on it are collected and the recorded stories are performed in the neighborhood playground. The second exhibition takes place in exhibition space WORM-Slash Gallery. A third exhibition is at Museum Rotterdam in the context of living heritage

the Namenkar is included in the museum collection by Museum Rotterdam in the Real Rotterdam Heritage collection. Since the closure of the museum in 2020 the Namenkar is in use as a multifunctional cabinet at community center Aktiegroep het Oude Westen

publication in collaboration with REALmag

video documentary by A Small Production Company

client foundation Squares Dots + Lines

support from Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht, Erasmusstichting

thanks to Joke van der Zwaard (Leeszaal West Rotterdam), REALmag, WORM, Buurtkrant Oude Westen, Oude Westen TV and Museum Rotterdam

in 1HOURartshows, artists themselves show a work of art to the public and passers-by. Artists recite their own work during one hour, act as the plinth of their work so to speak: artist and work become one

1HOURartshows Bornem are organised to give an idea of the future art programming during the opening of the new culture building cc ter Dilft

participants (amongst others): Kristof van Gelder, Katrien Oosterlinck, Christine Clinckx, Vaast Colson, Margot Dieleman, Rosa Sijben, Maarten Bel, Reinaart Vanhoe, Eef Veldkamp, Eline de Bruijn and 16 non-prof local artists

client Cultural Center ter Dilft, Bornem (BE)

a public studio organized in support of We Are Public Haarlem's launch campaign. From the campaign venue Grote Markt 15, Haarlem, activities were organized to recruit the first 500 members. In the end, more than 900 people became members.

the public studio is simultaneously a communication medium, a studio, an exhibition, a meeting place, an open workplace

in the summer and fall of 2017, Hans moves his studio to public spaces. He draws with passers-by on furniture in a mall, at a festival, at Leeszaal Rotterdam West, the Philharmonie and other public locations

Hans says, “Everyone is always and everywhere accessible through mobile technology and social media. But people need each other's company. Instead of consuming on your own, it is much more pleasant to produce something together.”

experience shows that drawing easily allows encounters in which people listen carefully to each other. On the other hand, it is a very relaxing activity. Participants come in all imaginable variations: people from 1 to 99 years old, people from all over the world, rich, poor, healthy, with and without disabilities. Their drawing on furniture is an example of crowd-sourced art, showing the diversity of all these different participants in the result

client Entrepreneurs Association Centrum Schalkwijk, Haarlem

support from thrift stores De Snuffelmug and Rataplan, Timmerfabriek van Heerden, Muijs office supply store, Municipality of Haarlem, Nieuwsgierig? and De Schalk-boopjes en koffie

special thanks to assistants Loes Pas and Saji Khazrai

with the Haarlem Living Room, Hans not only created an exhibition with work by amateurs, professional and international artists and designers. He lived in the exhibition all summer; he had a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, a bedroom, a study and a front garden. Each visitor was welcomed like a family member or close friend. The Living Room was open to all Haarlemmers and functioned as a café, stage for music and poetry, cultural center and meeting place. Every day there were several performances by singer-songwriters, poets and visitors could participate in workshops

The Haarlem Living Room was a real Living Room, everything could be used and touched

Furniture by Jurgen Bey (Studio Makkink & Bey), Floris Hovers, vintage furniture from the collection of Ron Koster, antiques by Ingrid and Pol Bruijs and luxury furniture by Van Duijvenbode Interieur

Artworks by o.a. Henk Peeters, Rolf Engelen, Joke Hak, Arthur Kempenaar, Simone de Groot, Eef Veldkamp, Reinaart Vanhoe, Willemijn Faber, Marcella Kuiper, Rene van den Bos, Daan Brouwer, Annabelle Rebiere, Made By Soek, Saeed Ojaghi, Erik Fens

Art from the collection of Frans Oomen o.a. Martin Creed, Karla Black, Günter Förg, John M. Armleder, J.Monk, Laure Provost, Marieke Elzerman, Sylvia Blickmann, Dolf van Rooden, Meuser, Richard Prince

Performances by o.a. Marleen Schlatmann, Marja van Hout, Mascha Tielemans, Julia Henneman en Marian Wanders

Performances by a.o. Maria van Oorsouw, Nuel Gieles, Thomas Möhlmann, Sjaak Vrugt, Silvia Huberts, Tsead Bruinsma, Jan Willem Anker, The Syrens, Kees-Jan Dijkstra, Ernie Bossmann and Gabi Rets, Iris van Dijk, Wessel van Deursen, Lisa and the Lumberjacks, Jurre van der Linden, Carly E, Anke Kranendonk, Yvonne Weijers, Venhill, Rob Wtenweerde, Raoul Michel, Esmee Gabelen, Basic Matters, Shana Bossmann, Mike Warners, Justin Samgar, Marnix DuCroock, Lotta Lotta, Yorick van Norden

Lectures by Jurgen Bey, Mirjam Hijstek, Ariel Alvarez, among others.

Workshops by among others Joost Klabbers, Karel Koster, Annemarie Sybrandy, Claire Duval, New Dutch Creatives and the World Kitchen, Mia Macke, Yessica Harder, Natascha Beets, Cecile Thio, Janny ter Meer

client artist association De Vishal, Haarlem

support from Cultuur stimuleringsfonds municipality of Haarlem, Prins Bernardfonds, VSBfonds, J.C.Ruigrokstichting, De Vishal, ByDennis, Sabien Bosman (Staal), Tuincentrum Oosteinde, Van Duijvenbode Interieur, Brainclub, Koot piano's, Michael Struis, Xandra Manuputty and 80 other contributors via Voordekunst crowdfunding platform

with special thanks to all the volunteers from De Vishal and beyond, Hendrik Helling (De Lachende Javaan), Pol Bruijs, Jara Polman, Rogier Polman, Iris van Dijk, Wessel van Deursen, Jerry Celie, Soek Zwamborn, Loes Pas, Glenn Kennsmil, Anne Rose Oosterbaan, Marcel Ott, Massimo Bossmann, Ellen van den Berg, Gerrie Hondius, Daan Streuli, Marius Jaspers, Sammy Fratelli, Pandora publishing house and 15,000 visitors

video documentary direction, camera, editing: Mirjam van Veelen Films running time: 4:50 minutes music by Carly E, J. Severin and J. Henneman

View the RTV NH video or scroll down to the documentary by Mirjam van Veelen Film

In 1HOURartshows, artists themselves show a work of art to the public and passers-by. Artists recite their own work during one hour, act as the plinth of their work so to speak: artist and work become one
 
1HOURartshows Arnhem are organised to create or intensify links between the ruru huis/ Sonsbeeka16_transACTION, socio-cultural institutions and participating artists: “Make friends, not art”

Six one-hour exhibitions at six different locations. Thirty plus artists participated after a open call, amongst others: vGtO, R. Nahawandi, M. Bosch, blondfabric-madebysoek, M. Hamwi,  E. Bossmann, C. van Lammeren, leden Ruangrupa, M. van der Worm, A. Arts, G. Rets, J. Jouwsma, E. Veldkamp

Spring and autumn

Photos by M. Alshahrour, R. Vanhoe, H. Bossmann,
E. Gonzales

Drawing club with (ex) refugees from Iran and Syria. In “relay drawing” the participants pass on their drawing to the person next to them, who then continues the drawing. Drawing doesn't require one to understand each other's language

WonderkamersHaarlem, Haarlem

In 1HOURartshows, artists themselves show a work of art to the public and passers-by. Artists recite their own work during one hour, act as the plinth of their work so to speak: artist and work become one

The reasons for organizing this 1HOURartshows:
1.   To link professional artists and their work in various genres and styles within an accessible exhibition concept

2.   To experiment with the boundaries of “indoor art” within the public space

3.   To create goodwill for the work of artists in general and artists' society De Vishal in particular
 
Five friday-one-hour exhibitions from 4 to 5 PM at Grote Markt, Haarlem

Participants: K. Dullemond, E. Toorenent, S. Ojaghi, W. Faber, N. Willie, S. Blickman, Mobra, R. Jongeling, S. De Groot, I.Meijs, Ambro, blondfabric-MadeBySoek, H.Bossmann

May and June

Photos by M. Haringa, F. van der Erf

The Dutch slogan “Jan Lul Goed Spul” has a somewhat negative yet humorous connotation, along the lines of ‘Danny Dork Quality Work’ or ‘Billy Bore Exciting Store’

Taking the opposite situation as a starting point is a common way of finding solutions. Which name has such a negative association that any passer-by will remember it? Car repair shop ‘Total Loss’, liquor store ‘Free Delirium incl.’, butcher shop ‘The Dog Butcher’. Pub ‘Free Beer Tomorrow’. It's not difficult to evoke negative connotations that are funny as well. The small business owner is afraid of getting a bad reputation, but any form of attention is profitable. Bad advertising is good advertising

Vehicle lettering on delivery van

The Netherlands

Spring, summer 2008

The Travelling Exhibition For 1Person is a group exhibition featuring works by 10-15 visual artists/ designers. The exhibition is not open to the public but can be staged in its entirety in a private home or room. Hosted every two months at another private address in the Netherlands or Belgium

Concept and organization: H.Bossmann.
Participants among others: Wasco, M. Ebinger, U. Metzler, L. Bedaux, M. Van der Worm, J. Jongeleen, R. Engelen, Silvia B., R. Vanhoe, J. Bey, P. Spaans, T. Schepens

Client: Stichting Stilte! Amsterdam

Photos: the images photographed from the catalog