Genger, Martie

Martie Genger (1936) is born in Amsterdam and came to Curaçao in 1969. As a young 5-year-old, her creativity was already apparent, but lack of material caused her to collect whatever was available to give expression to her imagination.

Her first solo exhibition was held at the Hilton Hotel Curaçao in 1971. In 1983, she moved to Costa Rica and stayed there for 11 years. During that period, she exhibited her work on a regular basis, both solo and in group exhibitions. She relocated to Curaçao in 1994 and has since been exhibiting her work mostly in group exhibitions. The Curaçao Museum awarded her First Prize in the 1998 ‘Ekshibishon di nos Arte’.

Her artworks are often three-dimensional or installations. ‘Como Cerrar’ (How to deal with), a piece she made in 1981, was first exhibited in Costa Rica. It is a critical look at the establishment, values and prejudices.

Her work is always based on a thought or an idea. “It is as if the concept itself finds the right material to manifest the idea as clearly as possible. It is never the other way around.”

2013: Text and photographs by Josée Thissen-Rojer.