Artist Interview: Maaike Folmer

Inspired by her travels, Maaike Folmer has developed a profound fascination with the interplay between humans and their environments. This curiosity is reflected in her digital collages, which juxtapose the stark contrasts between the wealth, regulations, and cleanliness of the first world and the poverty, corruption, and pollution found elsewhere.

Her collages are characterized by rough, wild industrial images—cranes, rockets, tanks, ships, and machinery—that are meticulously arranged into serene and orderly landscapes. Through harmonious composition, the artist transforms chaotic industrial elements into tranquil scenes, offering a contemplative commentary on the human impact on our world.

We asked Maaike about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field?

After art school I made visual work (often realistic paintings) in large format. The work evoked a strong association with old propagandistic work of dictatorships, but also with contemporary advertising. I often used Photoshop as a sketch tool for the final painting. Despite the enthusiastic response from the public, I was not satisfied with the result. I felt like the painting was already finished before I started it. I actually found creating composite images in Photoshop much more interesting than the actual painting itself. So I decided to stop painting and focus on digital art. Now I can express my love for precision and more complex built images in digital cut-and-paste techniques, or digital collage. The benefit of this medium switch has been that all the technical knowledge and skills I gained while making paintings paid off. To this day, I look at my work through the eyes of a painter and that is a huge advantage.

*From the old days: Religion* / toy machine guns on MDF / 488 x 122 cm.

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork?

I think it's important to let the image speak for itself. I used to tend to make very loud work that made a clear-cut statement, sometimes with humor. Nowadays my work is a bit more subtle. I try to turn busy, chaotic images into a silent and harmonious composition. One thing has remained unchanged over the years: during my travels I have become fascinated by the role that humans play in relation to their environment. Wealth, rules and a cleaner environment in the first world and poverty, corruption and pollution on the other side of the planet.

What draws you to industrial elements like cranes, rockets, and machinery? Is there a specific message or theme conveyed through these objects?

From an early age I have been fascinated by rough and wild industrial images. Both three-dimensional in real life and sculptures and two-dimensional in the form of photos or videos. I see enormous beauty in decay. That sometimes makes the message a bit difficult. Of course I don't want people to live in poverty, but in the meantime I don't know where to look first when I walk through a slum in India, for example. A walk through a wealthy new-build neighborhood in the Netherlands where everything is correct and everything is clean does not appeal to me at all. I would also rather see a gigantic oil rig than a field full of solar panels or wind turbines.

So there is a discrepancy there. The message is no longer my starting point when making my collages. It is much more associative.

I only make decisions about the meaning as the process progresses. When you create one image from different images, a new meaning automatically arises. I often delete images that fit well into the composition, but which ultimately give the collage the wrong meaning. For example, I have great difficulty using images of people in my work (with a few exceptions). I often find that this makes the collage too anecdotal. My subjects often show the consequences of how humans relate to their living environment thus it is a bit redundant to include people in the mix.

Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces or a past or upcoming project? What makes them special to you?

I just completed a dream assignment. My sister-in-law took a tour of a recycling yard and sent me some photos. She said, 'I think this is something for you! Shall I ask them if you can take photos for your collages here on site?' A week later, someone from that company called me and, after seeing my website, asked if I could make a collage with self-shot photos exclusively for that company. Possibly supplemented with pictures from their own archive. Making this work never felt like a commission, as the company gave me complete artistic freedom from the beginning. The subject matter of this collage fits seamlessly with the subjects of my free work. The same thing happened as with my non-commissioned work: I completely disappeared into my work for hours at a time, completely entranced. I felt like a kid in the candy store!

JRG / digital collage / commissioned by Jansen Recycling Group / 200 x 150 cm — *JRG* / digital collage / commissioned by Jansen Recycling Group / 200 x 150 cm

What role does digital manipulation play in your work compared to traditional collage techniques?

In the beginning, my working method did not differ much from the analogue way of making collages. A stack of magazines became Google Images, scissors became the Lasso tool and glue became a layer in Photoshop. Gradually I learned to work with layer masks, which meant that cutting out was no longer final. A few years ago I bought a drawing tablet and I can now highlight or hide parts of a layer while painting. This creates new combinations of images that go further than individually cut out pictures. At the end of the making process I have to apply a lot of image correction, so that all the individual parts fit well together. I'm not yet at the point where I really create new images myself or where I use AI. I don't have the knowledge to do that now, but it could be the next step in the future.

What does your creative process look like? How do you approach brainstorming and conceptualizing ideas?

I usually start by collecting a lot of footage. Then I open a blank canvas in Photoshop and then I just start. Sometimes I already have a clear idea in advance. For example, I wanted to make an image of a Transformer-like robot made entirely out of pieces of raw meat. In that case I searched for photos of raw meat that are suitable for the desired shapes. It also happens that I give myself an assignment. This is to get out of my comfort zone. For example, I made a collage of the city of Rotterdam using only self-made photos. Then I actually impose the restriction on myself not to use photos from the internet and to choose a specific subject that isn't right up my alley.

*Meat Robot* / digital collage / 100 x 150 cm.

Can you share a story or experience that significantly influenced your journey as an artist?

There was a significant period in my life when I traveled a lot. For example, I once drove by car from the Netherlands to Southeast Asia and I experienced that people actually have the same basic needs everywhere, but that their content is determined by the local financial and political situation, the climate, traditions, customs and history. Of course I knew this in advance, but it has a huge impact when you see it with your own eyes. You actually see a change at every border crossing. These experiences have broadened my view and still influence my work and my life.

The Bridge / digital collage / 140 x 120 cm

What is a profound childhood memory?

I think when I was 9 years old, after my parents divorced, my mother met someone else and we suddenly moved from the west of the Netherlands to the east. As a child you can't process something like that and you think it's the end of the world. The funny thing about this is that it is children who usually undergo a drastic change in living environment much more smoothly than adults. In any case, it made my life better on all fronts!

What is a fun fact about you?

When I'm in need of some extra cash, I climb on a scaffold to paint houses. In times of need I can always fall back on this!