Mariëtte van der Ven has been regarded for years as a top figure among Dutch sculptors and ceramicists. In her studio in rural Nieuwendijk, she has all the space she needs for her profession. Her amazement and concern about how 'people' treat their fellow human beings and nature drive her to seek a language to let that wonder 'solidify'. The apparent realism is merely an illusion. Rather, it is symbolism, but not as we know it as an art movement: her sculptures, mostly made of porcelain, 'carry' the burdens of the contemporary world. Her sculptures are directly and physically present. They take your breath away and evoke silence.Trained as a sculptor, she later began using ceramic techniques and porcelain, from which she subsequently started experimenting extensively with glazes.