Ate von Hes is a contemporary artist with a focus on video and Vj'ing. After working as a shipbuilder, steel construction fitter, welder, blacksmith, neon&sign maker and graphic designer, he found himself at art school. 

His light-footed attitude towards his work features heavily in his re-use of existing media.

This approach is an easy way to communicate with people, and show them that it's not that difficult.

Humor, simplicity and a pinch of dulness are a perfect way for getting a conversation going, this helps to win over the sometimes biased viewer. In the background there’s alway a consciousness of the ongoing need for more art and less. 

On Facebook he asked his friends to help him with a artist statement and say something about his work, here’s a selection: (ps: he didn't pay or threaten these people in any way !)

Monika: The art of Ate thrives on irony, paradox and wit.

He plays with the viewers habits and expectations, but demand’s not to be taken too seriously at this complex game. In his media art he show’s a preoccupation with play and Ate’s work hovers between pop, readymade, surrealism, fluxus and conceptual art.

Fedor: Ate unobtrusively takes us to the essence of visual art: amazement! The apparent accessibility of his work quickly puts you on the wrong foot, his daring interventions on classical works inspire you to think and look ahead.

Eline: Profound uncomplicated works of art.

Peter: With his work he invites you to put on a different pair of glasses. He not only wants to create idiosyncratic art, but also to give a twist to your view of the (art) world.

Joris: The best handymanmoviesmaker from the entire Netherlands

Kenny: Could you paint me ? 

Peter: The man who knows all about explosions in art.

David: Ate von Hes began life at the beginning, and rapidly grew into a complex multi-celled organism. His initial notoriety, for dressing up like a sea anemone in movie theater lobbies and making bubbling sounds with his mouth, was short-lived. 

His job, manufacturing flame throwers for pets, became unfulfilling. Around this time, a neighbour who was obsessed with measuring animal paws asked him to fill in for her at the art gallery she was running. 

He found a mystical communion with the spaces art inhabits, and soon he was making assemblage art out of discarded feelings of self-worth. His work, deeply ephemeral in nature, caught he attention of legendary recluse Yeet Paloma, who became his biggest supporter. 

The next 14 years were a whirlwind of art openings, factory closings, and quite a lot of time spent fiddling with the lids of glass jars. He currently resides on the top of a very tall building, surrounded by falcons who chirp at him encouragingly.

Debby: Don’t change this sentence Ate; 'dear friends, please help me with my "artist statement". Thats exactly what its all about !