The young Dutch artist Raider lives and works in Amsterdam. Born in 2002, he represents a new generation of contemporary artists changing the market with fresh ideas about the nature and creation of art. In Raider’s work, digitality, craftsmanship, a love for experimentation, and concept blend into an iridescent whole that constantly offers the viewer new and diverse experiences. Through Instagram postings of his now-iconic sculptures of the character "Scoop’’. Raider first attracted the attention of galleries and art collectors in 2020. Subsequently, the artist showcased
its work at debut exhibitions across Art Fairs in Amsterdam, London, and New York, further expanding to Art Karlsruhe, KunstRai in Amsterdam, and Art Miami 2022, as the youngest exhibiting artist. In 2023, Raider kicked off the year with a pop-up exhibition during Milano Design Week, further solidifying his presence in the art world.
His first solo exhibition, "First Contact," took place in Amsterdam in May 2023. Raider is again invited to Art Miami as the youngest exhibiting artist in December.
Raider on his character: "Scoop is here for a reason. I want people to interact with the character in their thoughts and actions, and in turn, I want Scoop to interact with people through my work. Therefore, Scoop has a story. Arriving from an exoplanet, Scoop is now here to learn about humans and how they live, trying to figure out what Scoop represents. That's my mission for Scoop and its audience simultaneously.
At first glance, Scoop appears almost childlike, shaped entirely from spheres and looking at the viewer with big, round, young eyes. A curious alien visits Earth on a peaceful mission of "Unity, Friendship, and Love.
On closer inspection, each Scoop is a carefully handcrafted sculpture, its intricate creation process starkly contrasting its appearance. Raider digitally designs his spheres for every Scoop project.
He brings his designs alive using state-of-the-art technology and manually refines them to create a model that serves as a blank for a silicone mold. Within this mold, small editions of 10 to 12 sculptures are cast in resin until the mold is no longer usable.
Further steps include curing, grinding, fine grinding, polishing, multi-layered painting in a soft touch finish, and sealing.
Upon an even closer look, it becomes evident that Scoop is a concept with almost limitless expressive possibilities. As a "floating" wall sculpture with processor-controlled screen eyes that seem to follow the viewer curiously. As a monumental 20-meter object shaped by 12,000 tied helium balloons (as an event to mark its role as the Visibility Icon of the Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam 2022). As a deconstructed glass-acrylic wall painting.
As a screen print. And in various other, sometimes playful, sometimes sophisticated forms, techniques, and materials. Raider: "I like to tinker, try out new things, experiment with techniques and materials, and seek challenges. Perhaps I am the alien, and Scoop is the medium that constantly brings me back to reality."