I have been working as an independent visual artist since 1994. My studio is located in a former Mercedes showroom in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

I am self-taught with a background in graphic design. Over time I have developed into a multi-disciplinary artist. The graphic designer, the painter and the philosopher combined; that’s me! Next to my work as an independent artist, I create and participate in community art projects and educational art projects. I also design for non-profit organisations, private clients and commercial companies. Next to that I am an art coach a participating member of the visual arts committee in Zwolle and museum host at museum ‘ De Fundatie’ Zwolle. Takemebag the project The combination of different disciplines contribute to the feeling  to have no boundaries in what I want or can do. I discover common grounds and new angles. I often work with other artist and craftsmen to stretch the boundaries even more. Two creatives combined is twice the energy. Co creation is the way to maken things happen. 

 

The project Takemebag is born out of desperation of the plastic mass covering our earth and seas.  In a need to find a creative answer to this quest I bumped into Anne Marie van der Veen (kunstzinnig Textiel).

Both our discipline and ethos seems to combine well in this art and craft full journey.

 

More information about me, my art and other projects: www.maritotto.nl

 

 

MOTIVATION

 

A few years ago I frequently travelled to the Caribbean and once to Venezuela. The shirt bag in a variety of colours is an awful plaque over there. Every shop, big or small, hands them out to each and every one regardless of the content, big or small. The consumer takes the product out and immediately throws the bag away. Consequence; this bag ends up everywhere on the streets, in the Sumpina bushes and eventually in the ‘so well’ protected and exceptional beautiful sea and coral reefs. The sea life and corals here are protected because it’s one of the most unique diving and snorkel locations in the world with corals and steep drop-offs right at the cost. Here you might encounter with a sea turtle. It is quiet an experience to meet up with a creature like this and join his world for a while. These turtles suffocate, by mistake they see the shirt bag for a jellyfish, a big item on their daily diet. Not only for them but also for plenty more sea creatures this plastic bag is a real threat! Not only directly at the coast, but also in the entire seas and oceans are creatures victim of a still growing and multiplying plastic soup. The shirt bag is an enormous contribute to the scale of the plastic soup.

 

My moments in the Caribbean Sea is the reason that I am so touched by the beauty and the vulnerability of the under water world. For years I struggled with the idea that I had to do something for this region. This is where the idea is born. At first I named the project Clean Carribe but it seems more realistic to start close to home. I truly hope that somewhere in the future the Caribbean can benefit from this project some how.