Creating new perspectives is an important part of Artis' art policy. This involves, amongst other things, offering artists the opportunity to examine the relationship between nature and art to see how it can shape new work in today’s world. In the summer of 2013, artist Pavèl van Houten, helped by an army of volunteers, examined two types of trees and one species of grass in Artis Royal Zoo. Using the data collected, Van Houten created four very different wallpaper patterns. He took to heart the Natura Artis Magistra motto (‘nature is the instructor of art and science’) and was inspired by both nature and mathematics.
Wallpaper
It was decided to decorate the walls on the ground floor of the North Pavilion with modern interpretations of 19th-century stylistic principles.