"Dead. Nothing to be done about it." With these short sentences, artist, program maker and voice actor Wim T. Schippers (1942–2026) bid farewell to the world. The text of his obituary fits his work well: matter-of-fact, witty and with a feel for the absurd. If there is one artwork in which all these elements come together, it's his famous Peanut Butter Floor.
Peanut Butter Floor
As a tribute to Schippers, this work is being shown again in the Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. For this presentation, 390 kilos of peanut butter are spread across a hexagon measuring 25 m². The tribute can be seen from 9 July through 6 September 2026.
9 July 2026 up to and including 6 September 2026
Depot
Spreading Days Peanut Butter Floor
For the realization of the Peanut Butter Floor, the museum has appointed so-called 'peanut butter plasterers'. They already applied the floor with great precision in 2011 and turned out not to be finished yet. On 2 and 3 July, armed with buckets of peanut butter and plastering tools, they got to work again to recreate the floor.
Thanks to
The peanut butter for the artwork was donated by Calvé. We are very grateful to them for that. Moreover, this brand was Wim T. Schippers's preferred choice. As he himself put it: "Because it spreads so nicely."
About the Peanut Butter Floor
What is the Peanut Butter Floor?
The Peanut Butter Floor (Pindakaasvloer) is a conceptual artwork created by Wim T. Schippers in 1962. It consists of a floor covered with a thick layer of peanut butter and is part of his so-called Floor Covering Series. Within this series, Schippers also covered floors with materials such as broken glass and salt.
The artwork revolves around the idea of a peanut butter-covered floor being displayed in a museum and visitors wondering why it is there. It raises questions such as: Is this art? and Am I allowed to find this beautiful? Schippers believed that art does not necessarily have to be logical or useful. It may be absurd - just like life itself - and that is precisely what makes it worthwhile.
Is this the original Peanut Butter Floor from 1962?
The Peanut Butter Floor is a work that is re-created each time according to Wim T. Schippers’ instructions. The presentation at the Depot is therefore not a preserved floor from 1962, but a new realization of the artwork. The concept and its execution together constitute the work.
Why did the museum choose the Peanut Butter Floor as a tribute?
The Peanut Butter Floor is one of Wim T. Schippers’ most iconic and recognizable works. It reflects his humor, originality, and innovative view of art. For decades, it has inspired wonder, curiosity, and discussion among visitors. Because it is so characteristic of his way of thinking and working, the Peanut Butter Floor is a fitting tribute.
Is the floor made of real peanut butter?
Yes. For this presentation, Calvé peanut butter (without pieces) has been used. Wim T. Schippers considered this essential to the experience of the artwork. This was also Wim T. Schippers’ preferred brand. ‘Because it spreads so nicely’, as he himself put it.
How much peanut butter was used?
Approximately 390 kilograms of peanut butter were used for this realization. What shape and size is the Peanut Butter Floor? The Peanut Butter Floor can be presented in various shapes. For this installation, a hexagonal floor covering 25 square metres was chosen, fitting both the exhibition space and the desire to present the work as spatially as possible.
