Pindakaasvloer

Pindakaasvloer (pronounced [pɪndakasvlur]; "peanut butter platform") is an artwork by Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers. It consists of a floor covered with peanut butter.^[1]

Background

The idea for Pindakaasvloer evolved from some of Schippers' earlier work. He installed two floor sculptures in a 1962 exhibit at Museum Fodor; he covered the entire floor of one gallery with salt, and another with shards of broken sheet glass.^[2] The concept for Pindakaasvloer dates from 1962, a time when he began his association with the Fluxus movement; during the 1960s he gained a reputation for absurdist and controversial works of art. He worked on short films as well, with Wim van der Linden and others, but his relations with the established art world were troubled and by the early 1970s he was working almost exclusively on writing and making television shows for the VPRO. Schippers referred to television as "the greatest gallery in the world".^[3]

Execution

Pindakaasvloer was first executed in 1969 in the Mickery gallery in Loenersloot. The work was redone in 1997 in conjunction with a Schippers retrospective at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht,^[3] and again in a gallery in 2010. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam bought the concept in 2010 and installed it in 2011.^[4][5] Museum director Sjarel Ex stated that it was "one of the most important acquisitions made in 2010".^[1] The purchase price was not officially disclosed, but it was reportedly over €100,000. The artwork has flexible specifications, and may be installed in various ways. While previous installations were square, the piece constructed in the Rotterdam museum had dimensions of 4 by 12 metres (13 ft × 39 ft), and consisted of 700 litres (150 imp gal; 180 US gal) of peanut butter.^[6] According to a museum newsletter, "Schippers' works are known for their beauty and their senselessness."^[7]

At least three visitors accidentally walked onto the floor,^[8] and were held responsible for the damage.^[9] Schippers fielded more than 500 questions asked via video on the blog Pindakaaspost.^[10]

On the occasion of Schippers' seventieth birthday, a replica of the artwork was installed in the Willy Dobbeplantsoen in Olst.^[11]

References

External links

• De Pindakaasvloer van Wim T. Schippers, at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, including video of the making of.

v t e Wim T. Schippers Television shows Hoepla De Fred Haché Show Barend is weer bezig Van Oekel's Discohoek Het is weer zo laat! De lachende scheerkwast Op zoek naar Yolanda Plafond over de vloer We zijn weer thuis Radio Ronflonflon Drama Going to the Dogs Wuivend graan Het laatste nippertje Collaborators IJf Blokker Dolf Brouwers Ruud van Hemert Gied Jaspars Ellen Jens Mimi Kok Wim van der Linden Clous van Mechelen Harry Touw Characters Boy Bensdorp Gé Braadslee Fred Haché Jaap Knasterhuis Otto Kolkvet Wilhelmina Kuttje Wilhelmina Kuttje, Jr. Sjef van Oekel Jacques Plafond Barend Servet Jan Vos Art works Pindakaasvloer Torentje van Drienerlo