Bart Drost

In 2012, Bart Drost worked as artist in residence at the Chinese European Art Centre (CEAC) in Xiamen, China. Such a period is usually concluded with a public presentation in the exhibition space of the CEAC. The project that Drost wanted to show would be carried out on site: he wanted to repeat a series of self-portraits from his early student days in Nijmegen. However, the organisation judged that this project was too controversial, too much nudity and too much gay.

He then decided, in his capacity as Mr.MAAS, to show work by Chinese artists who had been guests at his own artist residence in Nijmegen, additing three paintings he made in regard of a visit at teh Biënnale in Vienna with one of the visiting Chinese artists.

Nevertheless tthe photo project he still carried out  in his own country and was finally shown at the exhibition Labeling Identity in Amsterdam in 2016.

Still at least somewhat affected but certainly also highly surprised by the fact that the project concerning the self-portraits was so promptly rejected by the organization of CEAC and declared too controversial ("We are dependent on the hospitality of the Chinese, Bart") and especially by the fact that the project was labeled as 'too gay minded', Bart Drost decided to create a new work:  mind your step.

In the middle of the empty gallery space of CEAC he places a megaphone on a pedestal from which the text 'mind your step' can be heard loudly. After all, before you know it you make a mistake...

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