Home, night sky above Zundert

Exhibition at Van Gogh Huis, Kosterswoning
Zundert, The Netherlands

Home, night sky above Zundert 190x100cm, oil on canvas

De Moeren, 190x100 cm, oil on canvas

Asparagus, 20x30 cm, oil on canvas

Exhibition view, oil sketches on linen, montage on wood panel, A4

Studio view, AIR Van Gogh, Zundert

 

Studio view, AIR Van Gogh, Zundert

I felt overwhelmed by nature, especially in the fields of the countryside. When I arrived in Zundert I saw a clear image of a painting in my imagination. I could see the colours, the surface of the paint, the brushstrokes. But I didn't paint it. Instead I watched the night sky, with binoculars I looked at the stars, and the stars between the stars, in an endless universe. I woke up the next morning thinking I could never paint such a beautiful image. The morning light entered the kitchen window and fluff from the willow trees danced in the air. It struck me they have the same movement. I started to paint, layer after layer, until the oil paint on linen catches the movement of the stars, and the colours of the night blend on the canvas. It took me day after day and week after week. When I finished this painting, I walked on De Moeren, on the dust road along the heather. There it was, when I looked up at the sky above the dark grey heather, the sunlight simmered and sky looked exactly like the painting I had seen in my imagination. I painted 'De Moeren' in one day.

For the month of April I was invited for the artist-in-residency in Zundert, The Netherlands. During my stay I made several oil sketches, smaller paintings and three large paintings:

- Large painting of three light blue-grey planes is based on the sky above Zundert, unfortunately this painting got water damage after a roof leak. (200x300 cm, oil on canvas). 

- Large painting is based on the the night of 6 to 7 April, when I photographed the stars above Zundert and painted the impression this sight made on me. This painting is called 'Home, night sky above Zundert' (190x100 cm, oil on canvas). 

- Large painting is based on the sky above De Moeren, (190x100 cm). 

- Asparagus, three small paintings (20x30cm, oil on canvas)

- 'Remember' five small paintings of soldier's graves from WWII in the churchyard of the Protestant church (30x20cm, oil on canvas)

- Countless oil sketches (A4 oil on canvas)

- Countless drawings in conté on Steinbach and in sketchbooks

AIR Van Gogh

oil paint on canvas, sketch of the weather, A4, 2026

 

Two friends

There is a certain motivation involved to travel to the other side of the world in pursuit of making art. One might call it a 'slight madness', because we could have chosen a different life. A regular job, a home, a circle of friends. And yet, when opportunity arises, we take up our art materials and go. With 'we' I mean me. And maybe also Yoko. We're birds of a feather, so to speak. In 2004 I met Yoko Enoki in Antwerp where she studied painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. It was the start of our friendship, driven by an ongoing dialogue of rare topics, mostly on painting. What moves us to make art? There are so many answers. These past few days I have been looking forward for the moment when Yoko arrives in Zundert. I cleaned the Kosterswoning and adjacent atelier, I put my paintings and materials on one side to free up space for her, I planted chives, pumpkin and coriander in the garden, I thought about sightseeing in the countryside. The anticipation gives rise to my best abilities, I want to paint as good as I can to welcome her. To paint for someone makes me feel part of a past and present all coming together in this beautiful town. The old pear tree flowers, big white clouds drift by in a wide blue sky, the beech trees and hedges are coming into leaf. Everywhere we hear birds singing.

But the expectations didn't match reality. I don't know what happened. There is no explanation, I guess we drifted apart like the clouds in the sky. The residency was an incredible experience, we met wonderful artists, the hawthorn flowered in drifts of white so strong they light up blue at night. The owl hooted from nearby. With binoculars I looked at the night sky and between the stars new stars appeared. I walked on the Moeren, former peatlands turned into nature conservation. I stood on the dirt road looking at dry shrubs of heath, the air bright and simmering with a pale yellow sun. We divided the time in the studio and tried to make our time here as good as possible. It's no one's fault. Friendships come and go.

Our duo exhibition is on view from 26 april to 30 april at Kosterswoning, Elisabethlaan 1a, Zundert, The Netherlands. Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 12.30 - 16.30h  https://www.vangoghhuis.com/artist-in-residence/

The forager's allotment I made in the museum garden of the Van Gogh Huis is accessible via the Van Gogh Huis museum. https://www.vangoghhuis.com/en/vincent-van-gogh-house/

Downtown Permeke

 Homecoming of a series of paintings at Permeke Library Antwerp

Downtown Permeke

Sunday 8 March is International Women's Day, we like to let our more or less female visitors shine. You are welcome to join this event that starts with a workshop portrait drawing organised by the artist Morgan Van Gele, followed by a talk with poet Soukaïna Bennani and painter Eline De Clercq.

We use inclusive language, we don't want to exclude people. Everyone can choose how they fill in the meaning of being a woman. Downtown Permeke is a painting created thanks to and for the visitors of Permeke, and painted by Eline De Clercq. These portraits have found a permanent home in Permeke library, a public place for sharing cultures. 

This artwork, created in 2019, is expanding on the role of  audiences, makers and visitors. We see you. Our ambition to remain a safer space with an active role in our neighbourhood. We are celebrating the homecoming of these portraits with a little program:

13h start of the workshop portrait drawing, please bring a photo of the person you'd like to draw and inscribe for a place here:

15h conversation with Soukaïna Bennani & Eline De Clercq

15.45h end of workshop

Reserve your spot in the workshop (free but limited places)

 https://antwerpen.bibliotheek.be/activiteiten?cdbid=d3cd0b18-963d-4268-a4ce-1961f2be0b6b&utm_source=antwerpen.bibliotheek.be&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=widgets

Eline De Clercq (pronouns she, her, we) is an artist based in Antwerp, currently conducting a research on ecology and art. She makes drawings, paintings, film, texts and gardens. As a queer artist she cares about equal rights.

Morgan Van Gele is multidisciplinary artist from Antwerp, she combines mixed - media oil painting with copper smithing, visualising her process through symbolic materials and pigments. Her work with rich textures explores memories, intimity and devotion. 

Soukaïna Bennani is word artist and community organiser. Together with the citizens of Hoboken she wrote the poem 'Toevlucht' (refuge), which has a permanent home at the Permeke library. 

Location of this event: Bibliotheek Permeke , De Coninckplein 26, 2060 Antwerpen