Amaryllis Switch – What if bacteria will construct a new habitat of our plastic waste | Ronald van der Meijs

During the exhibition, various interventions and a sound performance will take place, allowing the installation to evolve continuously. The exhibition is on view until 1 March 2025.

On 19 January 2025 at 16:00, the solo exhibition by Ronald van der Meijs opens at Bradwolff Projects in Amsterdam Oost. Introduction by Sanneke Huisman, art historian and writer.

Van der Meijs's installation “Amaryllis Switch – What if bacteria will construct a new habitat of our plastic waste” poetically investigates how microorganisms can transform plastic waste into a new ecosystem. Inspired by the pioneering work of Prof. Dr. Linda Amaral-Zettler (NIOZ, Texel), the exhibition explores the plastisphere: the ecosystem of biofilms that form on ocean microplastics.

In the plastisphere, bacteria, algae, and diatoms create a biofilm upon concentrated plastic debris, giving rise to an unexpected ‘life’ emerging from pollution. Van der Meijs brings this scientific discovery to life by fusing nature, technology, and our planetary impact into a visual and auditory work. The slowly pulsating installation forms a soundscape in which the growth cycle of an Amaryllis Wax flower bulb determines the ‘life’ of the installation. This bulb serves as a biological rhythm, orchestrating the evolution of the installation throughout the run of the exhibition.

The result is a dynamic and living ecosystem in perpetual transformation, shaped by interventions that alter the space. Visitors are invited to reflect on the fragile balance between consumption, pollution, and regeneration. Amaryllis Switch poses the question: what happens when nature restructures our plastic legacy and brings it to life?

Ronald van der Meijs will be present at various moments during the exhibition. Stay tuned for his schedule.

Ronald van der Meijs (Tilburg, 1966) lives and works in Amsterdam. He graduated cum laude from AKV St.Joost in Breda. His work has been exhibited at prestigious venues worldwide, including Centraal Museum Utrecht, IJsselbiënnale ‘23, Verbeke Foundation Antwerp, and the Triennial of New Media Art in Beijing.

His installations and sculptures also inhabit public spaces, such as a permanent commission for Europol in The Hague. Alongside his visual art practice, Van der Meijs creates performances in which his installations and their generated sounds take on a new dimension.

Practical Information

Opening: 19 January 2025, 16:00 – 18:00
Introduction: Sanneke Huisman, art historian and writer. Exhibition runs through 1 March 2025 Location: Oetewalerstraat 73 Amsterdam Oost