No Image Available | 2007

Artwork ‘No Image Available’, an online edition made specifically for viewing via the internet. This online work from the project ‘No Image Available’ consists of an infinite series of ‘blank images’.

Martijn Sandberg has taken these out of their original context, just as one would encounter them on the internet. Each of these was at one time created separately, and was individually designed by users of the internet to broadcast the lack or absence of image to the internet visitor.
This site-specific work is on view online: an endless loop of ’empty images’ collected by the artist, with the animation repeatedly replenished by published versions of ‘No Image Available’.

Title: ‘No Image Available’
Artist: Martijn Sandberg
Url: www.msandberg.nl/noimageavailable
Description: online artwork
Concept and design: 2007
Publication: 2007

Karel Appel Was Hier | 2006

‘Karel Appel Was Hier’ is a bronze sculpture by Martijn Sandberg on the façade of the Karel Appel House at Dapperstraat 7. It is in the form of a half eaten golden coloured apple. The text ‘Karel Appel Was Hier’ (‘Karel Appel Was Here’) has been bitten out of the apple.

An apple and Appel

For the realisation of the artwork in 2006, a real apple was scanned three-dimensionally. The scan was then digitally sculpted, based on the figuration, and printed in a three-dimensional model using 3D printing technique. This 3D printed model for the artwork was ultimately cast in bronze.

Karel Appel Was Here

There is a relationship between the form of the sculpture and the Dapperstraat daily market. ‘Karel Appel Was Hier’ refers to the market, which can be connected to Karel Appel’s further artistic life.
The Dappermarkt corresponds to the art market, where all kinds of products – apples and pears – are compared to each other for freshness and price.
The wares are presented, exhibited and offered for sale on market stalls – as in galleries and art fairs. Gallery owners and curators promote works of art, just as market traders plug their merchandise.
On the market you hear: ‘An apple please!’ That is also said in the art market, when a real Appel is purchased: ‘An Appel please!’

The sculpture ‘Karel Appel Was Hier’ is recognisable for everyone. An apple core on the façade of the Karel Appel House, as playful artwork for playing and ‘inquiring children’ – of all ages.

Click here to view or download a PDF of above text in Dutch.
Click here to see a full description in English, as PDF.
Click here to see a full description in Dutch, as PDF.

Title: ‘Karel Appel Was Hier’
Artist: Martijn Sandberg
Concept and figuration: 2006
Realisation: 2006-2007
Installed in 2010 at Karel Appelhuis, Dapperstraat 7, Amsterdam

Photos by: Martijn Sandberg

Postage Stamps | 2005

TPG Post has issued two postage stamps in 2005, that are designed by Martijn Sandberg. Postage value of the stamps is 39 euro cents, or 78 euro cents respectively. The stamps are printed on rolls of 100 self-adhesive stamps.

“If I were to wake you up from a deep sleep and immediately ask you what a stamp is, then with your finger you would draw a flat surface with a zig-zag edge. So this is the main characteristic of a stamp apparantly, and how we recognize a stamp as being a stamp. And in fact, that’s the origin or starting point of my stamp design – it’s based on the characteristic standard perforation line. Even self adhesive stamps have a perforated edge. The perforation edge has thus performed through the test of time.” MS / 2005

“Als ik je zou wakker maken uit een diepe slaap en je direct vraag wat een postzegel is, dan teken je met je vinger de contouren van een vlak met kartelrand. Blijkbaar is de rand het belangrijkste kenmerk waaraan we een postzegel herkennen als een postzegel. En in feite is dat het uitgangspunt of de oorsprong van mijn postzegelontwerp – het is gebaseerd op de karakteristieke perforatierand. Zelfs de zelfklevende postzegels krijgen nog een perforatierand. De tanding heeft de tand des tijds dus doorstaan.” MS / 2005

Click here to see a full description in English, as PDF.
Click here to see a full description in Dutch, as PDF.

Click here for info and drawings of the 0,39 Euro stamp design phase, at www.postzegelontwerpen.nl.
Click here for info and drawings of the 0,78 Euro stamp design phase, at www.postzegelontwerpen.nl.

Related articles, section ‘Stories’:
‘An Offer You Can’t Refuse‘, 12 February 2024

Stamps: ‘Postzegels 2005’ / ‘Stamps 2005’
Artist: Martijn Sandberg
Stamp size: 25,3 x 20,8 mm
Print colours: 0,39 euro copper / 0,78 euro silver
Perforation: slit form
Paper: normal with phosphorus impression
Gum: self adhesive
Country of issue: The Netherlands
Date of release: May 24 2005
Product sort: rolls with 100 postage stamps
Printing technique: gravure
Edition: 0,39 euro 706.000 rolls / 0,78 euro 156.000 rolls
Printer: Joh. Enschede Security Print, Haarlem/ NL
Commissioned by: Royal TPG Post BV, The Netherlands

Photos by: Martijn Sandberg, Allard van der Hoek (6,7)