2023 Art Taipei

True Colors of Whimspers

Curator | Emerson Wang

The Netherlands is a country without mountains, only a vast ocean. One-third of its land area lies below sea level, and Dutch history is a history of struggle against the water. The sea is both a source of wealth and a constant source of disaster for the Dutch, thus shaping a practical and compromising character in Dutch culture. From history, culture, and art to architecture, this unique geographical environment has played a crucial and decisive role; therefore, "realism" and "practicality" have become strong DNA in the Dutch national character.

These four artists from the Netherlands, despite their boundless imagination and creativity, do not dwell on ethereal fantasies, but rather explore possibilities through a habit of transcending realistic understanding. Pascal Van der Graaf's paintings constantly explore new possibilities, even in landscapes and still lifes, where he strives to create new visual perspectives. His experiences traveling from Western Europe to East Asia, and the scenery of Taiwan, have provided inspiration for his use of color and form. He observes the freedom within culturally diverse environments, creating a three-dimensional, ethereal visual effect in two-dimensional paintings by folding and flipping landscapes and using and harmonizing different colors.

Jan Maarten Voskuil similarly uses concrete cutting and folding to create a sense of space, creating paintings within that space. Through the use of acrylic paint, frames, and linen, he challenges traditional stereotypes about painting. In his minimalist paintings, he transcends the boundaries between sculpture, installation art, and architecture.

Lily de Bont's paintings are experiments in both destructive and reconstructive archetypal paintings. Most of the structure on the linen is carefully removed until there is no canvas left, minimizing the possibility of it becoming a painting. This might seem minimalist, but the opposite is true. Instead, a more complex and interesting composition emerges, in which gravity also plays a role.

Rob Bouwman's works require a long creative process. First, he creates a wooden frame as a panel for the paint, then repeatedly applies a radiant coating, constantly sanding down each layer of color. This repeated process allows the paint to form only a very thin, transparent layer, until a mirror-like surface is achieved. The final painting reveals traces left by applying and removing paint with various tools on wet canvas. Close inspection reveals the rough edges of the paint being spread, creating a sense of fluidity and vitality.

These four artists constitute the landscape of contemporary Dutch art, ranging from Stylistics to the challenges posed by Dutch architecture in the latter half of the 20th century to the state of living spaces. These artists attempt to explore new elements and perspectives visually; their works contain no abstract elements, but rather explore the infinite possibilities of human thought.

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