ARTIST PROFILE // BJARNE & SUSAN
As part of a new series for the O initiative, we’re introducing you to some of the artists whose vision and flair helped create the beautifully contemporary O fountains. From Australia and around the globe, these artists have a truly special creative vision, particularly given their drive to contribute to such a sustainable and innovative form of art.
Today’s profile comes in the form of the cheeky duo, Bjarne and Susan, from Leeuwarden, in The Netherlands, Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2018.
Hailing from creative art studio, Smoel, Bjarne and Susan worked on some other projects before coming together to collaborate on the original work of art for The O Initiative.
For Bjarne, Smoel became his creative home seven years ago, while Susan joined almost two years ago; both, however, have flourished in the independent artist’s space, growing and expanding their technique and character.
Coming from individual artistic backgrounds — from illustrations through to painting and more experimental styles — the duo has an authentic, vibrant aesthetic that shines through their work. The electric shades of blue, married with the deep sea greens on their joint O fountain showcase their bold, yet harmonious approach to art. Susan, in particular, is fond of experimenting with a broad spectrum of colour palettes.
Prior to producing the O initiative water fountain, the pair collaborated on a piece that was displayed in the front window of the Smoel studio. Before long, an art admirer had snapped it up, falling in love with its unique design, and is now taking the artwork with him to Ibiza.
Bjarne and Susan’s energy, sense of humour and infectious laughter became a common theme on their fountain adventure. While Bjarne’s playful side was ever-apparent through both his creative process and the final product, Susan brought a slightly more ‘businesslike’ approach to the task at hand. When quizzed about her artworks, Susan matter-of-factly explained that if you liked her work, you could purchase it, stating, “I want to make a living out of my art”. Her Instagram account presents a beautiful blend of imagination and no-nonsense structure; her ambition, unsurprisingly, is to become a famous artist.
Bjarne and Susan are exceptional artists and it was exciting and inspiring to watch how they came together, shaped and shared their collective ideas, and produced a one-of-a-kind water fountain. The pair brought their own skills to the project, each designing one side of the fountain, to create a cohesive installation that reflected their own distinctive style. Their artwork is something that won’t just please the eyes of the public but will make a big difference to the City of Leeuwarden too.
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To read more about the initiative see here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grethaoost/
Or contact Gretha direct via gretha.oost@theoinitiative.com
- Designed by Gretha Oost, Founder of the O initiative
- Developed in collaboration with Zip Water
- Manufactured in Australia by GRC Environments
- The O fountain is Watermark Certified
