Welded Drawings
Steel
2021-ongoing
Investigating interactive networks between living organisms in an ecosystem led to the creation of this series of "Welded Drawings".
They are the the handmade opposite of 3D printing and laser cutting.
I use a welder in ways it is not specifically intended to. Starting with a steel sheet, I “draw” with a Mig welder, and build up reliefs as I go. Nerve or root like systems and many different marks and textures grow together. I incorporate the melted steel drips and discolorations and warping of the metal sheet. When ready, I cut or burn parts of the steel sheet away with a welder or a cutting torch.
"Organic Chaos Meets Industrial Strength.
A mesmerizing fusion of raw energy and intricate craftsmanship. Using welded steel as her medium, Cochius captures the tension between fragility and resilience, structure and spontaneity. The fluid yet rigid lines mimic organic growth, evoking natural patterns found in coral, root systems, or neural pathways.
Her work delves into the unseen forces of nature—movement, transformation, and the delicate balance between order and disorder. Through these works, Marieken challenges the viewer to explore the intersection of industrial materials and organic forms, blurring the boundaries between man-made and naturally occurring beauty."
by Shirley Noto
Driftwood Sculptures
This series includes a Public commission for the Village of Wappingers Falls, NY.
Driftwood and steel
2016-2019
How we undergo the natural is a reflection of ourselves.
As both sculptor and immigrant, driftwood holds an enormous appeal to me. Trees grow somewhere, then brake off or are uprooted and end up worn and changed by their voyage to a new location.
A life without boundaries, where everything is in flux and patterns are temporary, exists while we try to predict and harness the organic movements and changes that are unstoppable in the long run.
I strive to have the lines and textures in my work become organic structures that seem to be forever changing.