A 25-square-meter floor covered in 360 kilograms of smooth peanut butter has been unveiled at the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The installation, titled Pindakaasvloer (Peanut Butter Floor), is a recreation of a conceptual work by the late Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, utilizing enough spread to cover approximately 15,000 slices of toast, according to the Associated Press.
The Evolution of Pindakaasvloer
Wim T. Schippers first conceived the piece in 1969 as part of his “Floor Covering Series,” which also featured iterations using salt and broken glass. The current Rotterdam exhibition, which runs for two months, follows a 20-point instruction plan left by the artist, who died in June at age 83. Museum staff spent several days spreading 40 buckets of Calvé brand peanut butter across a hexagonal floor space, using masonry trowels to achieve a uniform thickness of two centimeters.
The “Peanut Butter Floor” is so aromatic that museum staff encourage visitors to follow the scent from the lobby, which can be detected as far as three floors below the gallery.
Conceptual Intent and Preservation Challenges
The work serves as a study in the boundaries of art, challenging viewers to consider how a mundane, edible material becomes a museum-grade installation. Schippers’ 20-point plan explicitly mandates that the surface remain “as smooth and boring as possible.” The instructions also include a strict prohibition against standing on or lying in the peanut butter, a direct response to a 1997 incident at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. During that prior exhibition, vandals disrupted the piece by scattering 12 slices of bread and packets of hagelslag—Dutch chocolate sprinkles—across the surface.
Future Trends in Sensory Art Installations
The Rotterdam installation requires clear signage at the museum entrance to warn visitors with peanut allergies, illustrating the intersection of artistic expression and public safety protocols.
Pro Tips for Museum-Goers
- Check for Allergies: Always review museum signage for allergen warnings when visiting installations involving organic materials.
- Engage with the Concept: Conceptual art is often more about the “idea” than the material; consider why the artist chose a common household item to inhabit a gallery space.
- Respect the Boundaries: Installations like Pindakaasvloer are fragile; physical contact can permanently alter the artist’s intended “smooth” finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the peanut butter in the Rotterdam exhibit edible?
- While it is standard Calvé peanut butter, it is part of an art installation and visitors are strictly prohibited from touching or consuming it.
- Why did the artist choose peanut butter?
- Schippers used the material to explore the concept of bringing a banal, everyday object into a gallery setting to challenge the definition of art.
- How long will the installation be on display?
- The current exhibition at the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is scheduled to run for two months.
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