NEWS
2025
Portraits with stories.
The women above were brave, tough or naughty.
They lived their lives when women were not allowed to study, work, earn money, own property, make independent decisions or travel alone.
If they managed to successfully follow their own path, their name was often 'forgotten' or erased from history after their death.
I portrayed them in oil on canvas and tell in short videos about the life or an achievement of the person behind the portrait. The series is not yet finished, but on the page Portraits with stories you can see some portraits and their videos.
2020
With the art project “Cyclus: portraits of children”
it is my intention to highlight the waiting lists for specialized youth care.
The title Cyclus (Cycle)
refers to the vicious circles plaguing many families. Adults that during childhood were neglected, abused, bullied, brainwashed, threatened, condescended on, etc. and never received care or managed to heal, will now often suffer from addiction, sleeplessness, fear, rage, depression or indifference. Children growing up in their vicinity are suffering now and, without proper care, often end up as adults having the same struggles.
To put children who for whatever reason are in desperate need of professional help on waiting lists is barbaric. With this project I intend to send the message that the current system which limits the financial resources for specialized youth care needs to be reformed.
Implementation.
The portraits of the children (oil on canvas, 30 x 24 cm.) are shown in the form of a gallery. They are normal children, but none of them smile. The portraits are based on pictures of victims of abuse, and symbolize all children growing up dealing with a hostile environment. From each child only the face is visible. With this approach I’ve tried to create uniformity to bring a sense of calm despite the amount of paintings, thus showcasing each persons’ character and individuality.
On page Cyclus Cyclus you can see a selection of the latest portraits and find more information about where and when this project will be exhibited (halfway through 2020).
November 2015 - Februari 2016:
During this period, filming took place for the Dutch feature film A Real Vermeer, directed by Rudolf van den Berg, about the legendary forger Han van Meegeren. Jeroen Spitzenberger playd the leading role. I guided him in the scenes in which he has to draw and paint. In addition, I made a number of paintings that Han van Meegeren supposedly made for himself or in commission (not the forged ones).
Jeroen Spitzenberger practicing for his role as Han van Meegeren.
2015:
On October 3rd and 4th, the annual Amstelveense Atelierroute is held. You are welcome in my studio at Amsterdamseweg 24, both days between 12:00 and 17:00.
2015:
On September 26 and 27 I showed my small abstract landscapes during the Annual Dutch Art Fair in the World Fashion Centre / Beursplaza in Amsterdam. I occupied stand no. 81 and the VIP stand together with my frind and colleage, sculptor Anja Vosdingh Bessem.
Indefinite Landscapes 16, 30x30 cm.
2015
From September 3 - 27 Museum Jan in Amstelveen showed a number of portraits from the Reputation series.
