“Taste the World of Tostiej”
I’m Joost Knipping, also known as Tostiej: an artist exploring the tension between human instincts and societal expectations. My work challenges identity, herd behavior and consumerism.
At This Art Fair 2025, I present ‘Masquerade: Protection or Threat?’, an artwork that challenges our relationship with identity, the pressure of following the herd, and the consumption-driven society we live in. I use discarded materials – wood, old doors, forgotten objects – to transform waste into expressive pieces. My instinctive process blends chaotic lines, bold colorus and absurd imagery to provoke thought. I also incorporate digital illustration, reflecting modern overstimulation.
Works like ‘Koets van Onderdrukking’, a deconstructed rocking horse symbolising oppression, and ‘Egeltje Zonder Ogen’, a hedgehog with exploding eyes representing the weight of constant digital exposure, reflect my perspective on the struggle to find genuine rest in today’s overstimulated world.
Inspired by communal and ritualistic traditions from Asia, Africa, and South America, I embrace vibrant storytelling and symbolism. My influences include Basquiat, Banksy and Daft Punk. In my atelier, I follow the RRR method (Reuse, Reduce & Recycle), repurposing materials.
