5. Clemens Tomlow

Monsters Under the Bed

by Clemens Tomlow

12 Apr 2024
14 Jul 2024

All over the world, monsters are used to scare children. But they are the same fairy tales that show that what we find monstrous in our society is often rather misunderstood. "Monsters Under the Bed" is a personal quest that celebrates all that is different and misunderstood. Clemens asks us to reflect on what we find scary or dangerous and to open ourselves to the idea that what we find scary may not be so well understood.

Enlarge

Close up of One of the Monsters - Monsters Under The Bed By Clemens Tomlow "Monsters Under the Bed" is a personal journey that celebrates all that is different and misunderstood. Clemens invites us to consider what we find frightening or risky and to embrace the notion that what we fear may not be thoroughly understood. Vu Ha

Scary or misunderstood?

Things that are different are often approached with fear or caution. People are affraid of each other, of things in nature, of other cultures, in short: things they don't understand. In many cultures we learn about the "Monster" that is misunderstood rather than scary from Frankenstein's Monster to Medusa to Djins. In our contemporary culture we constantly create new scare creatures: "confused people", migrants and even Japanese knotweed. In his work, Clemens invites us to celebrate things that are different about one and other. 

About the Artist

Clemens Tomlow is an alumni from Design Academy Eindhoven. Interested in the world of textiles and storytelling, he mainly works as an artist / costume designer but sees himself as an interdisciplinary maker.

Japanese Knotweed Season

This exhibition is part of the Japanese Knotweed Season. A recurring festival in which we explore our cultural relationship with plants.

Mediamatic organizes a program every spring around Japanese knotweed, a fast-growing plant known in Europe for its intrusive properties. What many do not know, however, is that this plant species has a host of positive properties. During this festival, we explore how to live in harmony with this controversial plant.

Find the whole program here!