Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools was a gallery initiated by the studio to showcase graphic art and illustration. At its conception there were no galleries of this kind in the Benelux. Graphic art or illustration was never presented in the ‘white cube’ gallery context, yet it had the quality and skill to be. Ship of Fools presented work from established artists but also new, upcoming artists. Both international and local. It showcased work that was bold, honest and striking.

Ship of Fools helped to build the creative scene in The Hague providing a place holding regular exhibitions where people could go to enjoy new, exciting work. It was a way to share inspiration and talent.

The name Ship of Fools comes from the painting of Hieronymus Bosch, the first real character designer. The painting depicts a ship filled with fools wasting their lives playing cards, drinking, flirting, eating instead of spending it in ‘useful ways.

For now, the gallery is on pause while the studio focuses on the Flags of Peace foundation. An initiative gathering peace flag designs from across the globe in order to exhibit them.

Ship of Fools exhibitions:

2012

Deadorama | Solo exhibition by Mc. Bess

Bring it on! | Group exhibition of more than 50 designers and their favourite works

Trial & Error | Solo exhibition by Brecht Vandenbroucke

Going Places | Solo exhibition by Andy Rementer

Music to My Eyes | Group exhibition with 160 record sleeves

Black and White are not Colors | Group exhibitions of 100 designers and 100 posters in cooperation with fontanel.nl

2011

Really Shit | Solo exhibition by Ian Stevenson

Don’t Believe the Type III | Typography festival with workshops, lectures, exhibition | Niessen en de Vries, Mario Hugo, Sean Freeman, Si Scott, HORT, Jeff Canham, among others

2010

AnalogFest | Festival on analogue techniques with workshops, lectures, exhibition | Jon Burgerman, Anthony Burrill, among others

More is a Bore | Group exhibition on minimalistic graphic design | Buro Destruct, Noma Bar, Leandro Castelao, Gorilla, among others

Summer School | Group exhibition of old school maps | ROA, Ian Stevenson, Merijn Hos, among others

Absurdism is our Religion | Group exhibition on absurdism | Gummbah, Andrew James Jones and Mudwig, among others

Don’t Believe the Type II | Typography festival in Shanghai with workshops, lectures, exhibition | Underware, Trapped in Suburbia, Yomar Augusto, among others

Bode, Botlek, Erosie | Exhibition of Luuk Bode, Daan Botlek & Erosie

2009

Don’t Believe the Type I | Typography festival with workshops, lectures, exhibition | Alex Trochut, Luca Barcellona and Job Wouters, among others

Jackyll & Hyde | Solo exhibition Superoboturbo

You Give Me Fever | Solo exhibition of Erwin van Amstel

Ship of Fools | Opening group exhibition with Jon Burgerman, Andy Rementer, among others