Belloni Advanced Research and Development Series at Kunsttraject 2024

Art work, titled: The Workspace - Supplies, by Dutch visual artist Bram Bellonni
The Workspace – Supplies, Bentinckstraat 25

Part of the “Belloni Advanced Research and Development” series by Bram Belloni is from September until October 2024 on display at Kunsttraject Amsterdam, Staatsliedenbuurt.

In this series, beginning visual artist Bram Belloni (NL) is working on a methodology for, and document the process of, becoming an artist.


Kunsttraject Amsterdam

Kunsttraject curates window galleries in the Staatsliedenbuurt and Zeeheldenbuurt neighborhoods, liven up public spaces and providing artists with unique opportunities to display their work.

Disciplines include visual arts, photography, and video art. Bram Belloni’s work can be found in the photography windows, marked by the blue dots at Bentinckstraat and Cliffordstraat.


Bentinckstraat 23

The Business of becoming an Artist – a proof of concept

The first step in becoming an artist is creating an optimal physical workspace.

A place for focus, creativity, and productivity, even with challenges like space limitations and financial constraints.

To overcome these challenges, Bram Belloni is developing a “workplace code”.

Inspired by how larger organizations operate (The Toyota Way, Skunkworks/Lockheed, the US Navy) and by fellow artists and craftsmen.

Recurring themes are; workplace organisation and inventarisation, specifications (“Show me the specs, and I define its purpose”), efficiency and consistency and treating the workspace like a temple (“It will set you free”).

The main floor of the studio is Sacred Space. This includes all surfaces in the shop, welding booth, office, bunker and kitchen.

Respect of this place is essential.

excerpt from: TEN BULLETS, Working to code
– by Tom Sachs

The Workspace – Specifications

The characteristics of The Workspace in specifications. Its physical dimensions, available light, designated occupancy.

This defines the possibilities of the space (or any other object). What you can do in it, or with it.

And eventually what results it will produce – its purpose.


Bentinckstraat 25

The Workspace – Inventory

The “Workspace – Inventory” series is a collection of still lives of inventory, stock, supplies and other objects present in the workshop of Bram Belloni.

Here shown are the nutritions to fuel the artist for a week or two of work.

Captured in a registration photograph. And ordered with the nutritional facts labels presented in front (specifications) instead of the branding.

Showing energy, carbs, proteins, fat and supplier information.

List of nutrition values, energy content, serving size and suppliers as shown in the art work The Workspace - Supplies by Bram Belloni
(click for larger image)
List of nutrition values, energy content, serving size and suppliers as shown in the art work
(click for larger image)

Trichrome: Color images on Black and White analog film

The color photographs in The Workplace series are shot with regular black and white film.

By using the color separation process you capture three black-and-white shots, each with a red, green, or blue (RGB) filter.

Each of these black-and-white negatives represents one primary color. When combined, these three images merge to form a full-color RGB photograph.

This is the same process used in the very first color photography in the 1800s (source). And results in very livid colors, which tends to be slightly off in perception.

Doing what’s right, every day

Every methodology is built on guiding principles, often summed up by a simple, memorable motto. These mottos, due its simplified form, might seem completely meaningless. Yet at the same time, carry a deep zen-like wisdom.

In “Mission Statements & Core Values,” Bram Belloni not only develops his own guiding principles but also explores the mission statements, core values, and mottos of his preferred suppliers.

One example is Ahold Delhaize, whose subsidiary Albert Heijn BV is a key provider of food for those in the Belloni Advanced Research and Development workshop.


Cliffordstraat 10

Impression of art works by Dutch visual artist Bram Belloni. From left; Ethics & Codes - Prepare and Prosper, No.1, Unity will benefit You, No. I.
Ethics & Codes – Prepare and Prosper, No.1, Unity will benefit You, No. I
H 30,4 x W 24,5 x D 3 cm
Acrylic paint on wooden panel

The Workspace – Ethics & Codes

Intrigued by corporate mottos (see Bentinckstraat 25), Bram Belloni has begun developing his own guiding statements into his art practice.

These loose, open-ended statements guide him toward good practice while prompting continuous questioning and refinement of his approach.

Frameworks to remind him to be intentional with every action, ensuring that his process is as deliberate as the final product.

Rules to work by, and to live by.

BEARS ON THE ROAD CLUB

For everyone who always sees problems (bears) along the road:

/ We must prepare in order to prosper.

/ You are not alone.


Cliffordstraat 16

The Workspace – Inventory

In “The Workspace – Inventory” series Bram Belloni turns the idea of the artist workspace as an effective and organised environment into practice.

He incorporates principles from methods like “The Toyota Way” and how the larger corporations and fellow artists operate. To keep tools, materials and stock well-organized and maintained.

This methodical approach ensures that everything has its place, making the artistic process more efficient and productive. And with the peace of mind this brings, a place where creativity can flow more freely and naturaly.

On display at Cliffordstraat 16:

Inventory (black and white/sepia print)

Inventory – Tool Unit, fastners (S)Apperal – Footwear, general use
Inventory – Cleaning Unit (S), dust removalInventory – Communications, receiver

Inventory (color print)

Inventory – Cleaning Unit (S), stain and oil removalStaff – Hands
Inventory – Mugs, with specifications appliedInventory – Cleaning Unit, remote use

Make it your own

One aspect in ordering your environment is making it your own – literally.

Build your own storage systems, your own tools and tool sets, group them, color-code them, design visual control workflows.

The items pictured in the “The Workspace – Inventory” series are a registration of this process. A temporary snap-shot of this (ever) on-going process.


Works for sale

Impression of artwork The Workspace - Supplies Nutritions for 1-2 weeks including lunch, snacks and beverages, by visual artist Bram Belloni - for sale

The Workspace – Supplies
Nutritions for 1-2 weeks including lunch, snacks and beverages

Year: 2023
Edition: 1/3 + 1 AP, signed & numbered
Dimensions: H 75 x W 100 cm (photo print, including 30mm white space)
Material: Trichrome photographic image, digitally printed on Fuji Flex RA4 photographic paper on 2mm dibond, framed, museum glass

Price: 950,00 euro – SOLD OUT

Impression of artwork, titled Mission Statements & Core Values - Ahold Delhaize (AMS:AD), by visual artist Bram Belloni - which is for sale

Mission Statements & Core Values
Ahold Delhaize (AMS:AD)

Year: 2024
Edition: 1/9 + 1 AP, signed & numbered
Dimensions: H 22 x W 17,7 cm (image), H 33 x W 27 x D 3,3 cm (frame)
Edition LARGE (not on display): 1/3 + 1 AP
Dimensions: available on request
Material: Trichrome photographic image, digitally printed on Fuji Flex RA4 photographic paper, framed, museum glass

Price: 350,00 euro

Impression of artwork, titled The Workspace - Inventory, by visual artist Bram Belloni - which is for sale

The Workspace – Inventory

– Tool Unit (S)
– Footwear
– Cleaning Unit (S), dust
– Comms

Year: 2023
Edition: unlimited, stamped
Dimensions: H 24 x W 30 cm (image), H 28 x W 35 (print)
Material: photographic image, digitally printed on c-type print, matte

Price: 65,00 euro (each)

Impression of artwork, titled The Workspace - Inventory, by visual artist Bram Belloni - which is for sale

The Workspace – Inventory

– Cleaning Unit (S), stains & oils
– Hands
– Mugs
– Cleaning Unit, remote

Year: 2023 – 2024
Edition: unlimited, stamped
Dimensions: H 24 x W 30 cm (image), H 28 x W 35 (print)
Material: Trichrome photographic image, digitally printed on c-type print, matte

Price: 65,00 euro (each)

How to order?

Please contact Kunsttraject by email by clicking the button below.
And include:

  • The title of the art work
  • Your email and telephone number
  • Further questions and remarks

We reply within 2 business days for payment details and delivery.

The fine print
Orders and pricing include:

  • The artwork as displayed (including frame as shown)
  • In same materials and dimensions as displayed, and as stated above
  • Shipping within the Netherlands
  • Pricing and invoicing includes BTW / Dutch VAT
  • Delivery within 4 weeks after payment
  • Payment via bankstransfer (bankoverschrijving)

About pricing
Proceeds will go in unequal parts to:

  • The materials of the artwork
  • The Dutch tax office
  • Kunsttraject Amsterdam
  • The artist

About Kunsttraject

Stichting Kunsttraject is an artist initiative based in the West district of Amsterdam. Kunsttraject curates exhibitions in shop windows throughout the Staatsliedenbuurt and Zeeheldenbuurt neighborhoods. The organization also runs visual arts projects, primarily within the West district.

Read more: www.kunsttrajectamsterdam.nl

About Bram Belloni

Bram Belloni (The Netherlands, 1976) has been working as freelance editorial photographer for magazines, news papers and clients in the scientific and cultural sector for over two decades.

Since 2022 he started working on more personal, autonomous work – as emerging visual artist.
Photography, with its wide array of techniques and visual culture, plays a large role in this new work.

This combined with other visual techniques (collage, print and signage, visual communication), is the starting point in his search for his identity as artist – and the search in establishing a sustainable art practice.

Art about art, and the art practice as a business.

“I’m in the business of becoming an artist”

@belloni_rd

Read more: www.brambelloni.com
or follow: @belloni_rd