Not miffy herself, but her mischievous and defiant cousins are the focus of the exhibition At miffy's attic by artist Roland Sohier. In the dick bruna house, he created an exciting attic where in every nook and cranny there is something to discover about this intriguing family of rabbits and hares. Think Roger Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, Playboy Bunny and Brother Rabbit.
With sloping walls, a slide, viewing boxes, a mezzanine floor where only children can stand and a wardrobe with a secret forest behind it, Sohier creates a surprising and dark world that can captivate not only children, but also adults. "Soon I knew I wanted nothing to do with Miffy herself. She is the icon of innocence and a bit sulky. I find other hares and rabbits more fun and exciting. I immediately felt a lot of freedom with that," says Roland Sohier (63). He was made a year ago by the Central Museum asked for this third exhibition around miffy in the dick bruna house. "An honourable invitation, but not without danger. I push boundaries and sow unrest, while Dick Bruna reassures. I sometimes find parents very careful with their children. Surely they are allowed to find something creepy? With nudity I have been a bit cautious, but I have not avoided it. In Down the rabit hole see Alice wandering down into a cloud of naked girls."
What is scary?
"A year ago, I started my research into Miffy's family tree. I naturally got into a flow. Cutting and pasting, I set to work. I always allow myself a lot, which makes my work lively. I am not afraid of making mistakes. In that too, I differ from Bruna. Why start all over again? There is always a solution to come up with." Sohier likes to take risks. His works are absurdist, figurative and have disturbing connotations. In one of the viewing boxes, he places Miffy in a crocodile's mouth and in his drawing One shot he let the sad ending of the children's song In a green knoll land see. 'PANG! ' sounds across the pitch. What sadness! One hare lies shot dead. I think it's stupid of that hunter,' reads the sign next to the painting. Sohier: "What is scary? I play with this question. Personally, I find the miffy masks children wear in the dick bruna house terrifying. Madhatternijntje, the tea party where everyone is wearing Miffy masks, which is why I think one of the scariest works in the exhibition. Children often find the 'secret' forest behind the wardrobe very creepy. This closet with fur coats is a reference to the film The Chronicles of Narnia, in which children enter another world through such a same closet."
Multiple layers
There are also references to films in the rest of the exhibition. By Being John Malkovich, in which a curious floor gives access to John Malkovich's head, he came up with the idea of the mezzanine. Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration for the slide that lets you slide 'down the rabit hole' into Alice's world from this floor. "I wanted to make something entirely for the children. That became the half floor where they can just walk upright and parents can only walk uncomfortably with bent backs," he explains. "With the rich layering of the exhibition, I am quite satisfied. It has worked out well. What one person doesn't see, another sees. Everyone can get something different out of it."
At miffy in the attic can be seen at the dick bruna house until 23 February 2014.
Roland Sohier stopped his blog the creation process.
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