49m² | Winter met Roeland Rooijakkers

During the winter edition of 49m², visual artist Roeland Rooijakkers digs deep—literally. With a spade and a curious eye, he explores the soil of Zaartpark in search of workable clay. But digging isn’t only about extraction—what happens when you remove material? And how do you give it back in a meaningful way?

A free state of 49m² — On this defined space of 7 x 7 metres in Zaartpark, the municipality of Breda relinquishes control for twenty years. Within this zone, artists, passers-by, and natural processes shape what unfolds. Each season, a different artist is invited to explore this unique space. This winter, Roeland takes us beneath the surface.

Roeland works with the raw materials of nature: branches, leaves, soil, stone, and clay. He sees them as quiet witnesses of time and origin, and gives them new meaning in his work. “When I work with these materials, I feel like a small alchemist,” he says. “What seems worthless at first can be transformed into something extraordinary.”

🌿 Follow his journey and discover what lies buried in the ground. Follow the process on @witterook and @roelandrooijakkers