“No ta Huur ni Bende!” (Not for Rent nor for Sale)
The Blue Bay Sculpture Garden has a remarkable premiere: for the first time, a sculpture by internationally renowned artist Tirzo Martha (1965, Willemstad) is permanently placed in the public space of Curaçao. Martha, who won the prestigious Wilhelmina Ring – the Dutch lifetime achievement award for sculpture – in 2019, has gained international recognition with his powerful sculptures, performances, and installations. His work has previously been shown in the Netherlands (Europe), Curaçao, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, but had not yet been permanently installed in the public space of his native island. The board of the Blue Bay Sculpture Garden Foundation Curaçao is therefore extremely proud to welcome this sculpture.
Imagination as a Force
“Art – or rather: imagination – is for me an instrument to connect people, to empower, to support, and to set things in motion,” says Martha. His work often emerges from social observations and personal experiences. This is also true of this (untitled) sculpture, part of the series Chronisch Monochroom (2021–2022). It was created during a period when Martha was recovering from a virus that affected his heart, which led to long stays in hospitals, both in Curaçao and Colombia. The white, sterile hospital spaces and the unfinished constructions of buildings in Curaçao inspired a series of largely white sculptures, reflecting on the fragility of our existence, dreams, recovery, and the value of time. The Blue Bay sculpture was previously shown at the Curaçao Museum (2023) and in the exhibition Intensive Care at Museum van Bommel van Dam, Venlo (2024).
From Everyday Materials to a Social Statement
As in much of his work, Martha here uses everyday materials from construction sites or the street, which acquire a new meaning in a different context. The sculpture thus carries a social weight and responsibility. A striking detail is the graffiti on the middle plate: “No ta Huur ni Bende!” (Not for Rent nor for Sale) – a powerful statement that invites reflection.
Tip: also visit the sculpture in the evening, when the lighting adds an extra layer of imagination to the work.
Connected with Young Talent
Beyond his own artistic practice, Martha is deeply committed to the next generation. In 2006, together with David Bade, he founded Instituto Buena Bista (IBB): a center for contemporary art and art education in Curaçao. Young people (ages 14–25) can follow an intensive preparatory trajectory here, leading to art studies at institutions in the Netherlands or abroad. The collaboration between Blue Bay and IBB also has a literal place: in the Sculpture Garden there are two rotating pedestals, which each year showcase new work by talented IBB students. With this first sculpture by Tirzo Martha in Curaçao’s public space, not only is an artistic milestone celebrated, but also a connection is made between past, present, and future. An invitation to everyone to experience the power of imagination firsthand.
