Dutch artist Ana Oosting views the world through the lens of both art and science. With her research-based work, she invites us to explore non-human perspectives. Museum Beelden aan Zee in The Hague presents the new solo exhibition: Ana Oosting – Breaking Waves, on view until June 9, 2025. For the museum, she created a site-specific installation featuring ten kinetic sea creatures, inspired by the wave patterns of the North Sea, moving freely through the space. The documentary of the same name by Studio Gerrit Schreurs highlights the creation of this spectacular work of art.
Art and Science
Research and collaboration are integral in the artistic practice of Ana Oosting (1985). The Dutch artist works closely with scientists across disciplines, intertwining her background in both neurobiology and fine art to her work. For her first major institutional solo exhibition Breaking Waves, she reached out to postdoctoral researcher Paul Bayle from TU Delft. Bayle: “What was amazing about working with Ana is that she needed only a few discussions and walks through our Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory to identify a relevant scientific concept that she then – in a truly impressive way – brought to life in the exhibition space.” With her impressive installation, Ana Oosting brings the sea into the museum. The kinetic work, consisting of ten gentle sea creatures, is inspired by the wave patterns of the North Sea. From the front, the creatures seem to effortlessly float through the air, but as you move around the space, the group gradually transforms into an immersive seascape. Their presence is accompanied by a symphony of natural sounds, deeply connected to the environment they evoke. Everyone may hear something different—from a whale’s haunting song to the whispers of coastal winds, or the thunderous crash of waves breaking against the shore.
Breaking Waves
Ana Oosting’s work emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings, both human and more-than-human. But her thinking extends beyond even the living. Using hyper-precise tessellations—meticulously crafted and repeated waterbomb folds—she allows her materials to come alive. “Ana Oosting embodies the idea that even non-living matter has agency—that it responds and reacts rather than being mere subjects of the human will. The artist makes work with materials, rather than of materials,” says curator Louise Bjeldbak Henriksen. “Breaking Waves marks her most ambitious project to date, showcasing her exceptional technical skills and masterful craftsmanship.” Oosting herself says of the new installation: “For me, the magic of the artwork lies not only in the fold, but also in the mechanism. It’s not a black box; you see all the working parts, and for me, that enhances the beauty of the whole.”
97,560 Folds
In the creation of Breaking Waves, Oosting is assisted by her team and fourteen volunteers. The enormous installation consists of ten different waves made up of 97,560 triangular and square folds, supported by a complex aluminum structure with 6,480 nuts, 2,880 bolts, and 360 rotating discs. The result is an enchanting, undulating movement that immerses the viewer in another world. The exhibition Ana Oosting – Breaking Waves will be on view until Monday, June 9, 2025, at Museum Beelden aan Zee in The Hague.Information and tickets: https://www.beeldenaanzee.nl/en/ana-oosting.
Photo: Studio Gerrit Schreurs, Ana Oosting – Breaking Waves