The Transformed Bell is a reimagining of the church bell as a sculptural object and instrument. By the 17th century, the European cast bronze bell had achieved remarkable acoustic refinement within the conventional form: its harmonic structure, combining a strike note with a precise overtone series, was perfected through generations of experimentation. Working with Royal Eijsbouts, a leading bell foundry, I proposed a radically new shape—a bell cast as a cone. Achieving a full harmonic range in this unfamiliar form required the invention of a new internal acoustic profile, developed through cycles of modelling, testing, and close collaboration with the foundry’s acoustical engineers. 

Homage to Japanese Lacquer is an artistic investigation of urushi. Derived from the sap of the lacquer tree, urushi is a uniquely demanding medium in art, requiring precise application and careful curing. I treat the medium itself as the primary subject, allowing its material properties and possibilities to guide the work. The project unfolds in ongoing collaboration with Japanese lacquer masters, a seamless dialogue between conceptual artist and artisan, negotiating each step to balance vision with execution.

Harmen Brethouwer