Daniël van Nes

grafiek - cross-over - tekenen

Daniël van Nes (1972) is creating SellFable, an interdisciplinary artistic universe where boundaries between digitality and humanity get blurred.

Inspired by biotechnological developments and science fiction, SellFable is inhabited by automated beings looking for a human soul. Ranging from Lost Mechanic Orphans to System Bugs, these characters are documented by The Archivist as evidence of SellFable visiting our mundane world.

SellFable stands out with ‘illuminated engravings’, an authentic technique that refreshes ancient engraving through contemporary lighting to give shape to sculptural installations. Together with woodcuts, soundscapes, poems, drawings, paintings and performances, SellFable’s body of work emerges as a dramatic environment.

Referencing the mysterious atmosphere of Art Noir movies, SellFable can be experienced as a ‘Machine Noir Art Universe’. The audience is invited to explore different notions of identity and reality in a society that rushes into the future.


The SellFable Passport - The SellFable Passport is a small booklet with illustrations, text and pages with room for visa stamps. The passport is exclusively available to SellFable Patrons, people that support SellFable via the Patreon platform. The Passport officially identifies its owner as a "SellFablean". It is signed and numbered by the SellFable Archivist / the artist. At the end of every full year of support receive an official "visa stamp” , in the form of an original limited edition, engraving print. The idea behind the passport and patronage is that people can collect original art for a modest amount of money, while structurally supporting me as an artist, and become part of the SellFable narrative. More information can be found on www.sellfable.com/portfolio/the-sellfable-passport
Excavation - Excavation was an urban art exhibition of SellFable Machine Noir Universe, where the public was challenged to participate in the ‘Excavation‘ of hidden artworks in the streets of Rotterdam. Using clues shared by The Archivist on SellFable’s social media and newsletter, art lovers and collectors were be able to find these exclusive artworks and take them home. Besides bringing this imaginary universe to a broad audience, Excavation also enables anyone to own a real work of art from SellFable,
SellFable x BOBO – El Psy Congroo - Visuals en animatie: SellFable (aka Daniël van Nes), Muziek: BOBO. Samenwerking voor Branie Festival Rotterdam
SellFable x BOBO – FGL - Visuals en animatie: SellFable (aka Daniël van Nes) Muziek: BOBO. Samenwerking voor Branie Festival Rotterdam
Carbon Console - Interactive mixed media installation (2020) Carbon Console is a SellFable Machine Relic. An immersive, multidisciplinary art installation, emanating light and sound. It’s a portal that will carry the visitor away like an ancient sailing ship, towards unknown shores: anywhere but here. Whether it is experienced as a portal, a chapel, a mausoleum, a refuge, or something altogether different, is up to the visitor. Its true purpose is open to everyone’s own interpretation and imagination. The structure has elements of machinery, ropes, masts, sails and a banner, bring to mind old sailing ships, a small factory, and perhaps a teleporting device. Something from a parallel universe. Images of robot guardians on the sides, are cut out of the material and glow with the rhythm of the soundscapes. They seem to keep watch, or perhaps they welcome the visitor. Once inside, the room captivates and immerses the visitor with ever changing soundscapes and lights. As if the machine comes to life, and does what it was meant to do: transport the visitor to that other universe: SellFable.
Sticks & Stones - Mixed media installation, size 10x3m. (2012)
Valu - Drawing: white pencil on black paper. “The mind is a mechanism connected to the shell. Programming starts from birth. Delicate wiring patterns and viral input build a functional citizen.” Size: 29,7x42cm
Detachment - Drawing: white pencil on black paper. A detached ‘mind’ is free floating above the world. A SellFable Wirehead in the clouds. Maybe it’s about to embark on a journey into the unknown. Maybe it’s lost and trying to find meaning in its existence. Or maybe one of a million other optional states in this or other realities, its antenna ready to receive any signal. Radio waves propagating through space and electric currents moving in metal conductors. Year: 2020 Size: 50 x 70cm
SellFable System Bug Relic Box - A light box keeping a precious System Bug safe. Vital to the SellFable universe, not unlike bees in our world. The plexiglas engraving transposes copper and wood engraving to modern material, resulting in ‘Illuminated Engraving’. The result of this handcrafted work can only be seen by use of light. Materials: Wood, Plexiglas, LED lights Size: 23x19x40cm
VOLT - ‘Volt’ is an ode to electricity and imagination, a portal to the parallel electric SellFable universe. The sculpture lovingly wraps weathering steel around a TenneT TSO oil pressure unit.