Form over function
Beetroot. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Avocado. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Turnip-tops. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Radish. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Broad beans. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 15.
Basil. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Sweet potatoes. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Jerusalem artichoke. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Leek sprouts. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Turnips. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Strawberry. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2018). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Chanterelles. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Haricots verts. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Parsley root. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Lychee. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Garden cress. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Dandelion. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 15.
Salsify. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Lentil sprouts. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Cactus. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2022). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Chickpea sprouts. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Asparagus-pea sprouts. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Oyster leaves. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 15.
Kohlrabi. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Wheat germ. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Ground cherries. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Purslane. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Carrots. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Nasturtium. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Runner beans. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Spring onion. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Kiwi. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2022). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Snow peas. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Enoki. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2015). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 15.
Garlic. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Cherimoya. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Celeriac. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 15.
Galia melon. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Artichoke. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Pea. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Parsnip. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Oxheart tomato. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
White shimeji. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2016). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Kiwi. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2014). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 15.
Pointed cabbage. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2017). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 15.
Romanesco. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2024). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 60, edition of 7 + 1 AP.
Red cabbage. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2025). C-print on alu-dibond, 60 x 40, edition of 7 + 1 AP.
Mango. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2022). C-print on alu-dibond, 40 x 60, edition of 7 + 1 AP.
Pomelo. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2022). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 7 + 1 AP.
Asian pear. Surhuisterveen, the Netherlands (2025). C-print on alu-dibond, 90 x 90, edition of 7 + 1 AP.
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Fruit and vegetables embody a certain urgency; sooner or later we will have to eat a lot more of them than we usually do. Aside from their pivotal role in feeding future generations, I find their aesthetic quality, variety in texture, and fleetingness captivating. Amplified by the interaction between subject and background, the resulting images – that are both graphical and raw – go beyond the mundane.
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LENSCULTURE EMERGING TALENT AWARD 2016
“These pictures make me think of an updated take on Edward Weston’s pepper, and they also remind me of the aesthetic of Karl Blossfeldt. I am drawn to the variety of compositions—Martens does not employ a formulaic approach but rather responds to each vegetable as it comes before the frame, responding to and drawing inspiration from it. There is a painterly or hand-made quality to many of these images which is the result of his use of texture, giving the photographs a worn, antiqued look.
As a viewer I am most intrigued by the images where the vegetable, or subject, seems to float in space, drawing me in for further observation. An image like ‘Broad Beans’, with depth and layering of imagery is particularly effective, the formations and texture in the background setting off the subjects.
The play between scientific observation and aesthetic interpretation results in the singular voice behind this work, which is well-composed and skillfully rendered. Something like ‘Basil’ feels relatively more clinical, while ‘Beetroot’, with the way it is cropped, has a more artful feeling. The play between these two approaches—and the potential of a scientific approach to also have artfulness—is very interesting. In ‘Leek Sprouts’, the form of the sprout almost references a matchstick that has been deformed in some way. This dynamic interaction between reality and perception is most intriguing.”
— Anonymous industry professional