孟东来
Donglai Meng (Marta)
B.1994, Dalian, China
Multimedia artist
Currently living and working in the Netherlands
Donglai Meng (Marta)
B.1994, Dalian, China
Multimedia artist
Currently living and working in the Netherlands

STATEMENT(CURRENT)
My interest originates from the study of psychoanalysis, which reveals the contradiction and split between human consciousness and subconsciousness, making me doubt the authenticity of the images we present in reality. Therefore, my artistic practice is to constantly capture and feel those unobservable inner states of human beings in different contexts, such as dreams, fantasies, hallucinations, etc. I question their significance to real life. My works are mainly installations, paintings, short stories, videos, etc. While exploring the mental world of people inward, I also research the connection between actual society and human psychology. I endowed my works with fictional narrative backgrounds, just like building dreams in the real world, making them as insinuations and reflections on real problems, and trying to draw viewers' attention to their inner experience.
EDUCATION
2017-2019 MA Fine Art, Master Institute of Visual Cultures AKV St.Joost, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
2013-2017 BA Oil Painting, Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, Rome, Italy
ARTIST RESIDENCY
2022 Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2021 OAZO AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 Nieuw en Meer AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2020 WitteRook, Breda, the Netherlands
2019 Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
AWARDS/GRANTS
2023 Artists Start 2023-24, Mondriaan Fonds
2021 Artist Project grants, Mondriaan Fonds
2020 Stipendium Emerging Artists 2020-21, Mondriaan Fonds
SELECTED EXHIBITION
Solo Exhibition
2022 Oh! My Dog!, Cha x Art, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 The Baron In The Trees, Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2021 A Porn Writer, OAZO AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 Make Lemonade, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2021 A Murder Case, Nieuw en Meer, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2020 Four States, Funspace Gallery OnlineRoom, Rome, Italy (Online)
2020 Midday Dreaming, WitteRook, Breda, the Netherlands
2019 Hairy Legs Shrine, Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
2017 Poetic Game, Palazzo Velli Expo, Rome, Italy
Group Exhibition
2023 Koortsdroom: versmelting van mens en dier, FRANS HALS MUSEUM, Haarlem, the Netherlands (up-coming)
2023 One day I’ll fly away, Galerie SANAA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2023 Atari, No Man’s Art Gallery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2023 Venti Sussurranti, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2023 Spring Musings & Muddy Feet, Galerie SANAA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2023 Launch show of Curated By, Huis Vasari, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Draw the Line Ⅱ- The Female Gaze, Wobby.club, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg, the Netherlands
2022 Pets and Animals, Kollection Kitsch, WORM, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Abitudine Artistica Ideologia Eccellente, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2022 In a pig’s whisper, De Vishal, Haarlem, the Netherlands
2022 The Shadow Of The Void, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2022 Crisis Kunst, Niffo Galerie, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Prospects 10th, by Mondriaan Fonds, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 We are all guests#8, Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Biennale di Todi, Tower Gallery by AAIE Center ,Todi, Italy
2021 Needles in the hay, The curators room, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 With permisson from the officer, PuntWG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 #artistsupportpledge, De Balie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2020, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello/ THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, Venice, Italy
2020 Art in the Time of Coronavirus & Social Distancing, Circle Foundation website (Online Exhibition)
2019 Graduation Exhibition - POSTCOMPOST, Master Institute of Visual Cultures AKV St.Joost, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
2019 Dream Power, Theater Vascello, Rome, Italy
2019 Percorso d'Arte a Castiglione III edizione, Palombara Sabina, Italy
2018 Transition, Eye Research Lab, Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2018 What Do We Dance For? Gallery Nectar, Tbilisi, Georgia
2017 TRACCE 2017, San Domenico, Italy
ART FAIR/ AUCTION/ EVENT
2023 Big Art, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (up-coming)
2023 Springboard art fair, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2022 Dead Darlings, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 THIS art fair, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 THIS art fair, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2020 - ITSLIQUID International Art Fair, Venice, Italy
ARTIST TALK/PRESENTATION
2019 Research Presentation, V2_, Lab for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam, Netherlands
WORKSHOP
2020 kidz-residency for Breda Cultuurnacht at Witte Rook, Breda
2019 organizer of the workshop “Brown shoes don’t make it” at ]St.Joost master institute, Den Bosch (with Hossein Daneshpajooh, Monique van de Ven, Simon Oosterhuis)
2018 organizer of the workshop “Incense in the room” at St.Joost master institute, Den Bosch (with Peng Zhang)