During my holidays in August I did some experiments in the garage of our cottage, returning to the shadow theatre approach I tried more than ten years ago. Working title: Cottage Industry.
Painted in 2019, did the finishing touch today. At the moment the Atlantic Ocean circulation is at its weakest in more than a millennium.
Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to Socialism or regression into Barbarism. (Rosa Luxemburg)
Socialism or Barbarism is an ongoing project in which I try to comment on current affairs and recent history. Many attempts turn out too simplistic or shallow, but sometimes I believe I succeed in making these digital collages almost as absurd as reality itself.
socialism or barbarism – Abu Ghraib / 2016 / digital collage
The last few years I spent most of my time on the Jamming project and my work for the Barvolam organisation. Jamming is an inclusive arts project in which artists with so-called “learning disabilities” together with artists handicapped by an art school education make collective paintings. I participated in many collective painting sessions, but did very little painting on my own. This summer I was able to spend more time in my studio (see below) and also found the time to update this website: I added the albums Digital Collage 2013-2015, The Expression of the Emotions in Humans (2016-2017) and Socialism or Barbarism (in progress) in the new section Collage, in the Paintings section Sketchbook Pages 2017-2019, Paintings 2015 and Paintings 2016-2017, in the Photography section Nature Morte (2009) and Pedestrians (2015), and I updated Graphic Design. Enjoy!
to play with the dog or eat it? / 2019 / acrylic and mixed media on hardboard / 50×40
portrait of my father / 2019 / acrylic and mixed media on hardboard / 45×60
orange-green composition with elephants and pissing man / 2019 / acrylic and mixed media on hardboard / 50×60
I thoroughly updated my graphic design portfolio yesterday.
album cover for Meteorismo compilation Kekri 2014 / 2014
I added the album Sketchbook Pages 2017 – 2019. Works on paper with an emphasis on speed, spontaneity and experimentation.
sketchbook page (without title) / 2017 / acrylic on paper / 70×90
Combination of scissors and glue with digital collage, based on the studies of the facial expression of emotions by Paul Ekman. Full series here.
the expression of the emotions in humans [1] / 2016-17 / digital collage
the guest house / 2016 / acrylic and mixed media on paper / 100×140
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
First trial for my new photography project.
garage blues (work in progress) / 2015 / digital photography
Paul Klee was better at this, but I keep trying. Using colours is not my strongest side, so I have to practice. I also did the finishing touch on two small paintings that were waiting for it already a long time.
paul klee was better at this / 2015 / acrylic on hardboard / two panels, each 40×50
happy testicle / 2015 / acrylic, charcoal and collage on hardboard / 24,5×36,5
home / 2015 / acrylic and collage on hardboard / 24×29
otto kouwen 