Jong Talent 2008, Gerrit Rietveld Academie

I could not chose whether I wanted to be a painter or an archaeologist. I studied chemistry as well as fine art, literature and art history. In the end I chose for fine arts, studied in Sweden and Germany and through a friend I was recommended Rietveld, where I started my BFA three years ago.

Sometimes I notice a confusion concerning my apparent lack of consistent style, as well as questions regarding why I treat my paintings, computer printouts and posters in such an equal manner. Even though I understand the risks of such a strategy, a major part of my practice is a sought tension which is only possible with diverse styles and sizes, something that would have been impossible with a homogeneous language. What is true, though, and consistent in every work is a pursuit to exaggerate whatever punctum that originally triggered me, to enforce it, with any means possible.
An interest in media archaeology and the specific characteristics of the mediums dealt with have made up the basis of the selection of images used; sources bearing qualities of evidence, of making or proving a statement, documents with convincing powers in whatever field they originated from. Underlining that I am not interested in any post-modern games of authorship and irony, I see my work as playful and sincere. My artistic point of departure is an oscillation between medium, source and equivocal interpretations.
I found that different kinds of images needs different sorts of morphological processes to create the desired tension

The exam committee wrote:
"The magic and starting point of photography is transformed into painting. Despite the date of the chosen motive it is the manner of painting that makes these works contemporary. In this final exam presentation the work possesses its own character and distinguishes itself in interpretation, style and representation."