My name is Pascal Smelik(1983), born and raised in the Netherlands. Since childhood I have been fascinated by natural phenomena such as growth, deformation, fusion and associated processes.

This started in my youth, when I went ice skating on the ditch adjacent to our backyard. I was fascinated by the clear ice and how leaves, fish and other aquatic animals were frozen in time. How the world under the ice sheet moved slowly in the stream of the cold water. It was (and still is) mesmerizing.

Growing up, I became more and more aware of how adults and society fuelled their lives to dizzying proportions, making the world into an almost uncontrollable ‘spinning ball’ on the road to an uncertain future.

Life moves too fast, me and so many others face problems because of this. We strive for efficiency and being rushed is the standard, experiencing time as something where there is too little off. It makes me aware of the inner need to slow down.

Inspired by science…
the micro cosmos shows me that life indeed is special, how ingenious we and all living organisms are put together. The macro cosmos shows me how easy it is to relative complexity. She shows me that I am a smaller whole in a much larger puzzle. That rush is of no value and only exists in my mind. I like to use my work to find balance between heart, head and hands.

My objects reflects this desired state of being. By careful and playful experimenting with physical processes, I create works that are in a subtle way; literally in the moment.

Slow down the present…

Pascal