Bob Mollema - Mascotte

‘The Experts’ is a group of creatives who distinguish themselves in various disciplines. Bob Mollema (1990) is an artist, graphic designer, art director and musician. He opened the doors of his colorful studio in Utrecht for us, for a nice conversation about art, nature, and his alter ego 'Flip Zonneheuvel'.

BOB MOLLEMA

"The themes I use in my artwork include absurdism, humanity, ancient civilisations, and the relationship between man and nature. I grew up in a small village in the Veluwe area, where people still like to regale old legends and myths. Why I find these so compelling? Our relationship with nature has become clouded. We have not seen God as a natural phenomenon for about 2000 years. That is why, in my artwork, I try to go back to the visual language used by people who once or still live in close harmony with nature, like the old Germanic people, or the Incas and Hindus. They inspire me and offer me a way to bridge the gap between man and nature. My artwork shows that wilderness, and it may even be a bit “boorish”, as long as it feels real."

"Everything in life is so artificial and manufacturable. I want to emanate wilderness."

"The moment is captured in the initial idea. It is the wilderness I want to emanate. Everything in life is so artificial and manufacturable; it has to satisfy certain aesthetics or is so hemmed in. My artwork may be erratic, freakish, and grimy. Because that’s where I find perfection - I’m looking for perfect imperfection. The fact that I conscientiously follow my own path has also resulted in clients who share the same vision finding me. I keep experiencing more and more freedom in what I create."

"Even so, as an illustrator, I had my period of feeling that I wasn’t getting anywhere. The style that mostly reflected me as an artist didn’t get noticed. I even held a regular office job for a while, which made me deeply unhappy. Until I read this interview with David Bowie, published in the 1970s. At the time, he was criticised for some extreme statements that he had made, and the interviewer asked questions about them. But Bowie answered: “It wasn’t me who said that – Ziggy Stardust did.” (Bowie’s alter ego, ed. note) It suddenly hit me that using an alter ego allows you to express yourself much more freely, so I created my own alter ego, Flip Zonneheuvel. I started meditating on this character and I linked the persona to an archetype that emboldened me to pursue a different style. What else do I do when I feel stuck? Well, I’m not going to hang around waiting for my inspiration to return: I go for walks, into nature. I find these moments wonderfully meditative. And sometimes, you just need to weather such moments of chagrin – accept the ups and downs that are part of the job."

"When I find myself getting stuck in my artwork, I take on an alter ego: Flip Zonneheuvel."

"What helps me as well is persistence. Don’t let it get you down! There were times that I sent 40 or 50 emails per week without getting any response on my portfolio. And when I didn’t get any response, I tended to dig deeper, trying to find out why: what clients do other illustrators work for? Which illustrators do I admire? How can I keep growing and create entirely new things? I also remind myself that I should never lose sight of my own ambitions. Ultimately, this has resulted in some amazing collaborations with, for example, Volcom, Paradiso, Bandcamp, and – recently – the cover of the VPRO TV guide. I first read that magazine as a child. So yes, that definitely felt like an ultimate recognition of my work.”