''Cornered": Switching from Single to Serial

''Cornered'' is a series I started working on during last year's fall. It actually didn't start out as a series, I thought the first drawing to be a one-off, like my other ''Single'' Works. But somehow this particular image came back in my mind, and started to appear on paper a couple of times. So, from ''single'' to ''serial'', so to speak, sometimes it just works that way.

Just black indian ink on paper, using various pens and pencils to create lines and texture. I kinda like this little creature trying to almost literally break away from the paper he (or she) feels trapped in. It's a fighter. I am happy to let this one return in a couple of more works and see where his fight to break free will take him/her.

What Witty Art takes from philosopher Martha Nussbaum and jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald

"To be a good human being is to have a kind of openness to the world ... it’s based on being more like a plant than like a jewel, something rather fragile, but whose very particular beauty is inseparable from its fragility." - Martha Nussbaum
 
An absolute must read: philosopher Martha Nussbaum on how to live with our human fragility – a truly inspring conversation with Bill Moyers. Click here to read the whole article on what is one of my most welcome sources for mindfeeds: Brainpickings.

The quote above pretty much touches the core of, ultimately, lies at the heart of my art work: living with human fragility. Learning to live with our imperfections rather than with our so-called qualities, and all that other ''human characteristics'' we so arrogantly think sets us apart from or even puts us above any other living species. As if the possesion of a larger brain and thus our ability to reason makes us the one and only surpreme lifeform on planet Earth. Well, personally, I don't think so.

I don't believe we humans are the superior life species on this planet. The most dominating, yes, absolutely but definitely not superior. Far from it, I'd say.

And that is a re-occuring theme in my work, I suppose. Like in the series ''Perfectly Imperfect MisFits'', which I started early 2011 and actually is one of my best-loved and best-selling series to this date. It seems people kinda fall in love with the rather ill-fated yet happily optimistic creatures who play the main lead in this series of drawings, made with pencil and ink. The whole series combined consists of out 30 drawings, some of which sold, others still waiting for a brandnew home.

As you can see, these are just little creatures, caught up in the bigger events of their time, some of them resisting it, others just going along with the flow, wherever that may take them.

After all, "It Ain't What You Do, It's The Way That You Do It'', as the late great Ella Fitzgerald once sang, in her superbly lighthearted, carefree, uplifting interpretation of the legendary classic, originally written by jazz musicians Melvin "Sy" Oliver and James "Trummy" Young. And sometimes, it's just that. No less, no more: ''Take it easy, then your jive will swing''.





The whole concept of human nature and its limited capacities is also notably visible in other works as well, such as ''Limited Human Resources'' (smartphone snapshot below), Egology'' and my interactive art project ''A Great Human''. 

'Series' page updated with ''Unforgiven'' and ''Mummies' Dearest''

Just updated the 'Series' page, adding a two piece created last year: ''Unforgiven'', and a whole new series I only recently started, called 'Mummies' Dearest.'' 

You can view the whole updated Series page by clicking here. ''Mummies' Dearest'', being the most recent series, will appear at top; for ''Unforgiven'', please scroll down a bit further.

About both series:

''Mummies' Dearest'' is all about a Mummy's enduring, all-consuming love for ''her'' little ones. Perhaps, not at all very healthy love - but, nonetheless, still love. And in a cold, heartless, even dystopian world, any bit of love will do.

''Unforgiven'' was highly inspired by a quote taken from the book ''Crime and Punishment'', a creation of the great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevski:

To go wrong in one's own way is better then to go right in someone else's.

For now, I consider this two-piece to be finished, but you never know, I might change my mind in the future and some new images will appear in my mind. 

 

New additions to Witty Art series ''Silenced Minority''

Time for another update on one of the series most dear to me: ''The Silenced Minority''. In two earlier posts, I already told a bit about my inspiration for this particular series. You can read them here (in English) and here (in Dutch).

Basically, the series is about the oppression of outcasts in a repressive society. A society, where minorities are slowly but surely, determinedly, being forced into the margins of society, stripped from their rights and robbed of their voices. A grim vision, perhaps? Well, unfortunately, even in today's world it's still reality for a whole lot of people worldwide. 

And perhaps I am not the one to climb on barricades, or the most politically active or outspoken, I do believe we, who happen to live in freedom, all have a choice, and a voice to go along with it. My voice happens to be my art. I hope, one way or the other, it will not go lost and unheard but it will touch some of people's minds out there. And, even more importantly, your hearts.

When the Majority remains Silent, the minority's voice goes unheard or is put quiet: The Silenced Minority.

You can find the whole series, consisting of #1 - 10 (so far) on the Series Page here. As I said, this is a series I hold very dear, so I will be certainly working on this one during the year.

'The Singles': the more abstract, darker world of Witty Art?

 

Recently, I created another page on this blog, featuring an overview of my so-called 'more autonomous works'. Or, as I call them: 'Singles'. These are all individual works that are no part of any series. Each work has its own title and they are more or like ''stand alone images'', though, they are too, somewhere, somehow,  intertwined and interconnected with each other.

These ''Singles'' belong to what some people call my more abstract, darker world. And sometimes this part of my work is affectionately refered to as ''Witty Art Dark'' (as whereas the ''Series'' are known as ''Witty Art Light). Well, I can live with this somewhat artificial ''divide'', as it's true that the ''Singles'' are definitely coming from somewhere deep inside of me. It's this kind of work that comes to me without any thinking or planning ahead, the images just pop up as the pen or brush touches the paper or canvas. It just goes from there. Pure instinct, I suppose. If that's ''dark'', then so be it!

Same goes for the titles. They appear ''out of nowhere'', though every now and then I can see where they are coming from. More than often the source is an (online) documentary or film or a piece of music that is playing in the background. For me, the combination of image and title is absolutely crucial. It's like giving each work an individual name. Without it, they are not complete and can't be shown to the world. For whatever reason, that is something I feel very strongly about. Should I ever produce an art work that would go ''untitled'', that'd be an huge exception - but then again, nothing's impossible.

Well, I invite you to have a close look and judge for yourself. And I am always open to feedback. If you feel like it, let me know what you think!

You can find all these and more ''Singles'' on this blogpage.

Wat is de drive achter Witty Art? Lees er NU over in het nieuwe Pandora Magazine!

Vanaf volgende week is-ie verkrijgbaar: de nieuwe, om niet te zeggen: vernieuwde editie van Pandora Magazine, inclusief het interview dat eindredacteur Ruud Vermeer onlangs met mij had.

Wil je deze editie van Pandora Magazine in je bezit krijgen? Mail naar Pandora.uitgeverij@gmail.com voor hoe je 'm kunt bestellen!

Voorproefje van het nieuwe Pandora Magazine

Een voorproefje van het nieuwe Pandora Magazine, dat begin/medio februari zal verschijnen. In deze editie het interview met mij door hoofd-/eindredacteur Ruud Vermeer. Over kunst, ondernemerschap en de drijfveren achter Witty Art. 

Eerlijk is eerlijk, het heeft natuurlijk best wel iets om je naam zo in één adem genoemd te zien met een Joost Zwagerman, Bart Chabot en een Arthur Rimbaud. Om maar 'ns een paar te noemen. Dat laatste natuurlijk gezegd hebbende met enig understatement, vind ik het echt enorm tof om in dezelfde uitgave te staan als collega-kunstenaar Malou Elshout, die omstreeks in dezelfde tijd op de kunstacademie zat als ik, en wiens werk ik enorm bewonder. 

In deze eerdere blogpost kun je lezen over hoe jij in het bezit kan komen van zo'n mooi Pandora Magazine! 

Silenced Minority: oppression of outcasts

One of the series I've been working on last year, is called ''Silenced Minority''. It's a series of drawings, basically about the ever-present danger of shutting out groups of people out of society, eventually leading to shutting them up, and shutting them down.

When the Majority remains Silent, the minority's voice goes unheard or is put quiet: The Silenced Minority.

This series, like so many of my work, will continue to be one in constant progress, especially since it's about a topic I care deeply about and this is the one way I feel free and strong enough to express my feelings.

All works shown above are drawings, ink and watercolour on paper and, for those of you who are interested, available for sale at a minimum price of € 245,- ex VAT and excluding frame. Interested? Just send me an email or contact me via Facebook or Twitter.

The Silenced Minority

Als mij gevraagd wordt naar de aanleiding van een bepaald werk of een serie, dan is mijn antwoord dat dat per serie enorm verschilt. In het ene geval zijn het actuele ontwikkelingen in het nieuws, dan weer het universele menselijke, soms is er geen directe aanleiding en rijgen verschillende beelden zich lukraak aaneen tot één groter geheel. 

De aanleiding voor ''Silenced Minority'', daarentegen, staat mij nog scherp bij. Deze serie ontstond 26 augustus 2012. Die avond was het programma ''Zomergasten'' op TV, de aflevering met Adriaan van Dis. In die bewuste aflevering toonde Van Dis fragmenten uit documentaires, films, programma's over Afrika, zijn fascinatie met menselijke gebreken en (vergeten) oorlogen. Onderwerpen die mij ook altijd fascineerden; en dat nog steeds doen. Terwijl Van Dis zijn fragementen toonde en becommentarieerde, tekende ik.

En zo vermengde ik beelden uit de documentaire ''The Last Voices of World War I'', waarin veteranen van WO1 vertelden over hun ervaringen, zich met de verdrongen herinneringen van de ''Troostmeisjes'', over hun leed en vernederingen tijdens de Japanse bezetting van voormalig Nederlands-Indië. Meer fragmenten toonde van Dis, over recht en onrecht, over oorlog, bezetting en onderdrukking. En nog steeds tekende ik.

Die specifieke uitzending, was de aanleiding voor een reeks schetsen, die ik heb uitgewerkt tot mijn serie ''Silenced Minority.''

The Silent Majority. Een gevaarlijk fenomeen, want wie zwijgt, stemt immers toe. Waartoe het kan leiden, toont de geschiedenis. Keer op keer, en keer op keer weer. En waar The Silent Majority overheerst, worden minderheden stelselmatig en structureel het zwijgen opgelegd, monddood gemaakt: The Silenced Minority.