2025
Familieportret III
Connecting external features. It is the first basis on which order can be created. For me as an artist, it is a fruitful way to look at chairs. The work Spel, created in 2024, is based on external features. You can literally play a game with these 36 drawings. Family ties also manifest themselves through these features. However, you can also reverse this: whoever shares the same element and/or constructive principle becomes family. The fact that I myself, the eldest son, come from a family of six determined the size of the family in this case.
Dubbelportret III
Take a look at Portrait 46. I recently immortalized this sleek, geometric chair by Maurizio Varsi in my series of portraits. Around the same time, I was actually looking for something different, and I spotted “Zanzi.” A design by Boris Berlin and Paul Christiansen. Well, they needed to be introduced to each other. That became Double Portrait III.
Portret 48
In a sense, many of my drawings are also portraits of chairs. In the “portrait” series, which now totals fifty, the key is the choice to depict only the upper half of the chair—the backrest. This is, of course, analogous to a portrait photograph or painting, where only the upper body or head is depicted. For those familiar with the chair depicted, it’s still instantly recognizable, but it also offers a new perspective on the chair. Numbers 46, 47, and 48 are horizontal and slightly different in size, and more spacious because they consist of two layers.
Portret 47
In a sense, many of my drawings are also portraits of chairs. In the “portrait” series, which now totals fifty, the key is the choice to depict only the upper half of the chair—the backrest. This is, of course, analogous to a portrait photograph or painting, where only the upper body or head is depicted. For those familiar with the chair depicted, it’s still instantly recognizable, but it also offers a new perspective on the chair. Numbers 46, 47, and 48 are horizontal and slightly different in size, and more spacious because they consist of two layers.
Portret 46
In a sense, many of my drawings are also portraits of chairs. In the “portrait” series, which now totals fifty, the key is the choice to depict only the upper half of the chair—the backrest. This is, of course, analogous to a portrait photograph or painting, where only the upper body or head is depicted. For those familiar with the chair depicted, it’s still instantly recognizable, but it also offers a new perspective on the chair. Numbers 46, 47, and 48 are horizontal and slightly different in size, and more spacious because they consist of two layers.
Ver Z
The ‘Z‘ or Zigzag chair by Gerrit Rietveld, it pops up in my collection more often. To perceive is a verb. I continue to enjoy playing with perception. Human perception is very much based on assumptions, which is useful because it would be very tiring to have to analyze to death everything that appears in your field of vision. It is fun to question the ‘fill in the blanks’. Of course, this only works if you view this work ‘in real life’ and hung at the right height. You view the ‘Z’ from a distance (‘ver’ in dutch), a distraction for your eyes.
Solo Simili III
“Simili” in the title comes from the paper I use for all my pencil drawings: “Simili Japon.” This paper was developed about a century and a half ago and takes its name from its similarity in color and quality to original Japanese paper, hence the “Japon” in its name. It’s a fine paper for pencil drawing, and yet in this case, I didn’t. In a sense, I drew with a knife, and by mounting it in layers, I leave the rest of the “drawing work” to the light. So, it’s essentially just paper that you’re presented with here, framed (though): Solo Simili. This work is related to Solo Simili and Solo Simili II, hence the “III.”
Siamese stoel II
A somewhat older desk or work chair. We know many variations of this. Nature saddles us now and then with aberrations where something has gone wrong in the cell division. A sheep with five legs, a calf with two heads or of course Siamese twins are clear examples of this. When you design and make something with your full mind, these kinds of ‘mistakes’ of course no longer occur. As a thought experiment and certainly also as a form it can be interesting or even challenging. The seat is already rising.
Schommel V
This drawing immediately refers back to an ‘older’ one entitled ‘Two-seater‘. Again a two-seater, that is immediately clear. But because of the circular connection a swing almost automatically arises. Just as swinging can give the feeling, albeit for a moment, that you are withdrawing from the laws of gravity, this also applies here in a certain sense to the dimensions. You seem to swing from one dimension to the other.
Afstammelingen IV
What a goldmine the book 2100 tubular frame chairs (collectors item!) by Otakar Macel is for me. Certainly the cantilever as conceived by Mart Stam. This fits perfectly in an isometric grid. In this way I can combine Stam’s original version with many followers. I do not look so much at name, fame or country of origin but purely at form. Stam is again accompanied by his descendants in this fourth ‘Afstammelingen’ (Descendants).
Schaduwen III
Does this couple grab the countless spotlights? Judging by the large number of shadows, you would say yes. Another possibility is that two worlds come together here, the real one and that of the shadows. In any case, the shadow group forms a solid backup for the arm-in-arm pair of Thonet chairs. Are they the families who support a fresh new couple in the background and put them in the spotlight on this special day?
Gearmd
As a form, a repetition of that from Pas de deux XIV from 2023 and Pas de deux XV from 2024. I played the game with shadows earlier in the works Rising Revolt or Shadows. The arm-to-arm Thonet chairs feel as if they are supported in the back by the looming shadows. They push them forward, as if. A beautiful stage for a good conversation or a newlywed couple.
Anti materie
This design by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen is also called the Ant chair in English. There are both three and four-legged versions. For my ‘version’ the tripod was of course necessary. The combination of pencil drawing and carving and assembly in layers makes the originally wooden part of the chair drawn by the light. The frame follows the shapes of the chair and the perspective and thus makes the whole into a kind of (family?) coat of arms for this chair and therefore for Arne Jacobsen.
Space Shield
A razor-sharp linework in parts combined with more classical pencil drawing produces a layered work, also in a literal sense. For the more language-sensitive viewer there is also the title ‘Space Shield’. Of course a reference to the shape of the frame.
Draagstoel II
Sedan chairs you only see them in museums nowadays, a relic from times gone by. Now you can see the car as a modern version of a sedan chair, a self-driving one even. That development and the associated improvement of the road network manoeuvred the sedan chair into oblivion.
Another angle is a chair with a recess in the back so that it is easier to lift. You often see these in catering- and school situations. See for example Duet and Duet II or Snorrenstoel.
Babel IV
Cutting away the residual shapes when I arrange or stack chairs started with Rietveld and has since conquered its place in my way of working and also thinking. In a small drawing like Backwards or in a large work like Tijdkring X. When cutting out, I also try to push my boundaries. Reason to dust off the starting point behind Babylonian score from 2018. Spatial and flat interwoven in several ways into a subtle fabric that subtly seems to move with changing light.