Ger van Elk (1941–2014) is one of the pioneers of conceptual art in the Netherlands. A highlight of his oeuvre is La Pièce from 1971, a white-painted block of beech wood on a velvet cushion.

Van Elk painted the block on a rocking boat in the middle of the ocean, somewhere between Ireland and Newfoundland. Due to the intersection of two ocean winds, the air is so pure that no dust can settle on the wet paint. With this technique, Van Elk works in the tradition of the Chinese imperial lacquerware, which was also often painted on the open sea. The film that he made of this action is showing together with La Pièce.