30th March – 7th July 2025

Museumstraat 65, 3311 XP

Dordrecht, Netherlands

Following the creation of the monumental bronze façade in 2022, Studio Job open their first exhibition in art museum KunstKerk, a unique exhibition showing works for the first time in the Netherlands from the surrealist artist Job Smeets.

Dust to Dust is noiw open, the latest solo show by Belgian-Dutch artist Job Smeets at the Kunstkerk. With craftsmanship, humour, and symbolism, the artist reflects on the continuous movement of time, and how everything eventually decays. The exhibition presents a broad selection of works, including life-sized bronze sculptures, pieces made of oak, silver, Swarovski crystals, and original drawings, nearly all being shown for the first time in the Netherlands.

The title of the exhibition is inspired by the funeral prayer: “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”While it speaks of mortality, it also reflects on the endless cycle of time, where everything moves forward, with or without us. The monumental works share powerful themes and comment on the state of the world today. A standout piece is Worn (2024), a luxury sofa in its most faded state. Its soft folds recall 17th century Baroque sculptures, yet reveal the familiar form of a beloved, timeworn couch, reminding us that everything eventually returns to dust.

Another important work is Fountain III (2020). The slow, constant drips from the tap create a frustrating feeling, as though time is slowly working against us. In the Promises (2025) mirror, the same uncomfortable drips are visible, as if everything is falling apart. The hunting trophies Shark (2023-24) and Sword (2021) explore the idea that power and violence are deeply intertwined with our society. Dust settles on the silver platter held aloft by the privileged boy in Prodigal Son (2019-22), a piece that reflects the demise of the American Dream.

The exhibition features a group of remarkable objects. Among them is Monkey Business (2013), an intensely ornate crystal clad bronze monkey protecting the contents of a gilded box. There is also a baroque-style cake that hides a camera, watching you as you observe it. Moonlander (2023-4) is a groundbreaking piece recently awarded art work of the year 2024. This spacecraft is handcrafted from 4kg of silver. Additionally, works from the Coffin Series will be shown: Coffin Chair and Coffin Desk (2024), coffins that Job has accurately reformed into furniture playing with the line between physical comfort and psychological discomfort.