CONTACT

Ruben Mols
+31 6 40104195
ruben_mols (@) hotmail.com

INTRODUCTION

From the inception of commercial internet, information and communication networks are integrating ever deeper into our lives, embedding themselves in all social domains. From the way we are in touch with family and friends, how we are educated, the way we work and to the way we are being governed. Our devices and digital counterparts are playing such key roles that distinguishing between human and machine gets ever more difficult. A circuit is formed between user and tool, expanding our cognitive capabilities while navigating our everyday lives. Our devices should rightfully be understood as true extensions of ourselves, as agents that are actively shaping us and the way we act in the world.

Although our devices assist us in various levels of complexity they remain accessible primarily as consumer goods. This one sided relationship is lacking in participation and requires a healthy dose of alertness. For what gets lost in the translation between physical and digital worlds? How do our devices influence us, rewiring our understanding of our bodies, minds and environments?

My work aims at questioning the interplay between life and artificial structures. I am focusing on the way we get conditioned in the ongoing experiment of technologies in transformation. By contrasting intuitive gestures with various technological languages a playing field between function and uselessness is created in an effort not to forget humane qualities in an ever more artificial, calculated, revenue-minded and data driven world.

AWARDS / GRANTS

2023 – CBK Rotterdam, Project contribution
2022 – AG Kunstprijs (nominated)
2021 – CBK Rotterdam, Project contribution
2020 – Mondriaan Fonds, Stipendium for Emerging Artists
2017 – Frans de Wit prijs (nominated)
2016 – Sint Joost penning 2016, AKV St.Joost, Breda (winner)

RESIDENCIES

2020 – Institut für Psychologie, Universität Würzburg DE
2019 – In Het Midden, TAC Eindhoven, NL
2019 – PAF ‘Performance Art Forum’, St Erme Outre et Ramecourt FR
2017 – Grenswerk, Tripkau DE
2015 – Greylight Projects, Hoensbroek NL

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2024
03/10 – 06/10 SWAB Art Fair, Barcelona, CHAxARTxRTM booth
28/06 – 30/06 Take Away, Stadsgallerij, Breda
02/02 – 11/02  An Ounce of Information is Worth a Pound of Data at Beurstraverse, Rotterdam
06/01 – 26/01 Codes and Keys Solo exhibition at CHAxARTxRTM, Rotterdam

2023
16/11 – 19/11 Unfair 23, Gashouder Amsterdam
4/10 – 8/10 Art the Hauge, Jump! Talenthub booth, Den Haag
15/9 – 17/9 Symphony of a Thousand Frogs – Reprise at Shofukan, Rotterdam
Duo exhibition with Zoë d’Hont
20/7 – 23/7 Symphony of a Thousand Frogs at Kumagusuku SAS, Kyoto JP
Duo exhibition with Zoë d’Hont

2022
5/5 – 4/7 Groupshow at Academisch Genootschap, Eindhoven
19/5 – 23/5 Prospects 2022 : Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam

2021
25/11 – 27/11 THAT OTHER YOU : MOM Art-Space, Hamburg DE curated by : Ruben Mols. With : Eady van Acker, Maud van den Beuken, David Jablonowski, Tom Putman, and Christy Westhovens
9/10 Spectre Connector : The Orchid And the Wasp, NDSM-werf Amsterdam, Duo exhibition with Kuo Wei Tung

2020
19/9 – 8/11 Nurture – Nurture : GalleryM21, Knokke Solo exhibition
14/3 – 21/6 HOST : ruimteCAESUUR, Middelburg Solo exhibition
14/8 – 23/8 Solipsism Binds Us Together : Hilton Art Lab, Rotterdam

2019
20/7 – 11/8 In Het Midden : TAC, Eindhoven

2018
16/6 – 28/10 Landkunst op Fort Sabina : In collaboration with BKKC, Fort Sabina, Heijningen
1/6 – 15/6 Aisle/aition : Souterrain14, Amsterdam
2/6 – 10/6 YAFF at Charlois Speciaal : Wielewaal, Rotterdam
5/1 – 7/1 Impermanent signs : MOM art space, Hamburg DE

2017
5/12 – 26/12 Grenswerk : De Sociale Dienst, Eindhoven
29/10 Grenswerk : MOM art space, Hamburg DE
18/5 – 6/8 Raakvlakken : In collaboration with stichting Beelden in Leiden, Hooglandse Kerkgracht, Leiden
6/9/16 – 25/3/17 Juncta Position : Willem2Fabriek, Den Bosch

2016
15/10 – 13/11 Fresh Cacao : Cacaofabriek, Helmond
2/6 – 6/6 Eindexpositie AKV St.Joost : AKV St.Joost, Breda
15/1 – 17/1 She’d asked me why, I just went on ’n told her, de Fabriek Eindhoven
17/10 – 18/10 Several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict, Organised by Whatspace, MOB terrein, Tilburg

2015
3/4 – 16/4 Things are cooking in our kitchen, Greylight projects, Hoensbroek
27/3 – 1/4 Hauptsache Schweirig, Electron, Breda

EDUCATION

2018-2019 Studio for Immediate Spaces. Sandberg Instituut, Amsterdam
2012-2016 Bachelor Fine Art. AKV St.Joost, Breda
2008-2012 MBO Graphic Design. SintLucas, Boxtel

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS/ TEXTS

2023 – A Summary of My Time Brain Painting, text by Ruben Mols
2020 – HOST, text by Roel Neuraij, self published / edition of 200
2020 – Zeeuwse Courant Apr. 25th, Ruben Mols stelt wezenlijke vragen, text by Nico Out
2019 – Care for the Extended Mind, text by Ruben Mols
2017 – Beelden in Leiden 2017, Catalogue, text by Ruben Mols
2017 – Het Parool Jan. 19th, Fris van de Pers, text by Liza Rijken
2016 – MetropolisM no4, Graduation publication, text by Jade Karthaus
2016 – BN de Stem June 30th 2016, text by Edine Wijnands

INTERVIEWS

2024 : KUNST IS LANG (en het leven is kort), episode 288, Luuk Heezen & Mister Motley

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2023 – 2024 : Participating in the Jump! Talenthub
2016 – 2021 : Advisory Board, Gastatelier LEOXIII Tilburg, Tilburg
2017 – 2021 : Webdesigner, Gastatelier LEOXIII Tilburg, Tilburg
2017 – 2018 : Member of YAFF (Young Artist Feed Forward)
19-9-18 : Jury member for the LEOXIII Prijs 2018 with Domeniek Ruyters, editor-in-chief MetropolisM and Maria Schnyder, curator – De Pont, Tilburg

COLLECTIONS

Various private collections