ROTTERDAM – More than 800 pounds of peanut butter — enough for around 15,000 sandwiches — has been spread across the floor of a museum in the Netherlands in tribute to Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, who died last month.
The conceptual artist, who passed away at the age of 83, first created the Pindakaasvloer, or peanut butter floor, in 1969. This unique work was unveiled on Thursday at the Depot offshoot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in the port city of Rotterdam, where it will be on display for two months.
Schippers was a beloved non-conformist figure in the Netherlands, known not only for his art but also for voicing Ernie and Kermit the Frog in the Dutch version of “Sesame Street.” His works often featured absurdist themes that challenged traditional notions of art.
At a past exhibition in 1997, Schippers joyfully remarked, “Isn’t it fantastic that we are all standing here looking at peanut butter?” This statement encapsulates his playful approach to art and life.
As part of a series on unconventional floor coverings, the peanut butter floor joins other unique installations featuring glass shards and salt. The aroma of peanut butter, reminiscent of breakfasts and lunch boxes, is a significant part of the experience. Museum staff even guided visitors to “follow the smell” wafting up from three floors below the artwork.
“The thing I remember is the smell,” recalled Mieke Weismann, a food photographer who experienced the artwork as a teenager in 1997. For many, the scent creates a nostalgic connection to childhood meals.
However, the art installation is not suitable for everyone. A warning sign at the museum advises visitors with peanut allergies to proceed with caution or avoid the space altogether.
The installation process was no small feat; it took two employees of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen several days to spread 40 buckets of peanut butter across a 25-square-meter (270-square-foot) hexagon. Leon Duenk, one of the workers, shared, “It was a lot of work,” as they used drywall trowels to apply the peanut butter to a thickness of 2 centimeters (0.8 inches).
Before his death, Schippers and the museum discussed how to recreate the installation, resulting in a 20-point plan. This plan included instructions to apply the peanut butter “as smoothly and boringly as possible” and emphasized that “no one is supposed to stand in, or lie down on the peanut butter.”
While Schippers did not dictate the size or shape of this whimsical artwork, he specified that it should contain smooth peanut butter, ideally from the Dutch brand Calvé, which generously donated 40 tubs for the project.
In previous exhibitions, some visitors have stepped into the sticky creation. In 1997, the piece was “vandalized” when a group placed 12 slices of bread and bags of hagelslag — chocolate sprinkles that are a breakfast favorite in the Netherlands — on the floor. Schippers humorously commented on the “vandalism,” appreciating the artistic touch of the sprinkles.
Wim T. Schippers leaves behind a legacy that encourages viewers to rethink the boundaries of art, reminding us that creativity can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
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Associated Press writer Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this article.
