Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Principles and questioning....
















Yes... I am self-opinionated and self-conscious.
It is not that I think I have a monopoly on wisdom, on the contrary!
Most things that come on my path I pull into question.
Not life itself, nor earth, nor the universe.
In order not to become insane, I've accepted life for what it is and I focus as much as I can on the advantages of it and on the wonders of mother nature.
What I do question is what people do, think, say, create, (try to) force upon others and why people do things/act/follow (sometimes blindly) because of the simple explanation: 'everybody does it'.
Especially the last part frightens me. I don't want to do things because everybody does it. Even as a child I already chose to take the other path.

Last Monday I saw an interview with Antanas Mockus, by Raoul Heertje (my compliments!) in the series 'Wintergasten'. Mockus is an eccentric mathematician and philosopher (known for his mooning-incident) who was the mayor of Bogota, Columbia, leading this town VERY succesfully in his own very unconventional way.
Not only did he make short work of the ruling corruption and cronyism. By following his own principles and using his imagination and perseverance, he for example succesfully introduced mimes as traffic controllers (dreadfully declining the amount of casualties). You don't believe your eyes... but it is true!
This is only one of the many changes he accomplished.
He was a candidate for the presidential elections in Colombia. Short before the elections he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. According to his principles he informed the people.
He ended 2nd in the race.

This man is a hero to me... I feel deep admiration.
When you see him, you would not think that this soft intellectual nerd would be capable of changing the world around him.
But he is....
He is an example to me.
Never be afraid to question!
Never be afraid to look beyond your own imagination.

For everyone who is interested and can receive Dutch public television: the interview will be repeated on January 1, 13.55, Ned. 2, VPRO
It's in English (with subtitles)
Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Upcoming solo exhibition in Paris - Galerie Tatiana Tournemine

























I've been working succesfully with Galerie Tatiana Tournemine in Paris - France since the beginning of this year.
Soon there will be a spotlight on 4 female abstractionists and I'm one of them.
Each artist will have a short solo exhibition in the cycle 'abstraction au feminin', which takes place from Jan. 17 until Feb. 12 - 2011.

My solo show will be from January 31 until February 5.


Daily opening hours: 11-14.00 h and 15-19.00 hours (Monday until Saturday)
Galerie Tatiana Tournemine, 104, Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré in Paris, France.

The gallery is located across Palais de l'Elysée (the president's workshop), which lies just in between of the Champs Elysée and Boulevard Haussmann (with the famous Lafayette and Le Printemps).
http://maps.google.fr/maps

So if you happen to be in Paris by then, or your live in the neighbourhood, you are more than welcome!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The whites of the winter

























Since the end of November the snow dominates our landscape.
The change of the seasons is an everlasting inspiration to me. I love the changing colors. I love what it does with the landscape.
The whites of the winter, in combination with the blue skies, the colors of the forest and the sun casting a warm light on nature is enchanting to me. It makes me feel like living in a fairytale.

I prefer a warm climate, but time and again I'm amazed about mother nature's wonders!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The mini-me collection

























I have been painting a collection of very small paintings.
Acrylics on heavy linen
10x15 cm each, framed!

On the combination of pictures you can see the relief/the layers... it's just like the large paintings.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

My art on other art blogs!









Daily Art Fixx, one of my favourite art blogs from all over the world, did a piece on my art for the 3rd time in 1,5 years!!
I feel very honored, because I love the taste of the Wendy Campbell, the Canadian art blogger. 
She's got a great collection of artists on her blog, which is read world wide!

If you love to discover new art, I highly recommend her blog!

http://www.dailyartfixx.com/2010/12/14/esther-barend-abstract-and-portable-art/

I also received a message from a fan that one of my paintings was shown on another art blog
http://www.rojo-magazine.com/public-daily/page/7/
I must say, I'm very happy I got this alert, because I really like this blog.
There is so much wonderful art to discover in the world!

Monday, December 06, 2010

LINEART-VISITORS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HEART WARMING REACTIONS
















It is true... the snow and slippery roads kept a lot of potential visitors from coming to Lineart.
The amount of visitors on Saturday can be compared with what normally is expected on a Friday.
Sunday was busier, although not like on a usual Lineart-Sunday (when people used to throng the fair, anyway during the last decades)
But... I spoke to a lot of visitors at the booth of Gallery ART-ist, and the reactions were more than heart warming.
I feel overwhelmed by the enthusiastic and awesome comments and the time people took to tell me about how the experience my art.
They don't know how much this means to me, but I'm very grateful for every comment and sign of appreciation.
I don't want to brag, but when people (apart from one another) tell you that your paintings are one of the most innovative they've seen on Lineart and that they are touched by the composition, dynamics and combination of colors... I can tell you from experience: it moves you.
I can feel my wings growing.

LINEART can still be visited, today and tomorrow:
Monday Dec 6. 11.00 - 10.00 pm
Tuesday Dec 7. 11.00 - 07.00 pm
I will not be attending the booth of Gallery ART-ist, but the gallery owners will give you a warm welcome.

Overall it's absolutely worthwhile to visit this fair.

Lineart
Flanders Expo
Ghent - Belgium
www.lineart.be

Friday, December 03, 2010

Opening LINEART 2010




















The cold, ice and snow played spoil-sport for the opening of the 29th edition of LINEART yesterday.
Fortunately not everyone stayed at home and at one point there were a lot of people.
But on the previous openings of Lineart it was much busier.
Nevertheless... the booth of Gallery ART-ist looks great and the quality of the offered art overall on Lineart is high.

So, if you are curious take your car, or go by train, bus or tram.
Flanders Expo, Gent - Belgium (the location of Lineart) can be reached very easily by public transport.

Opening hours:

Friday Dec 3. 11.00 - 10.00 pm
Saturday Dec 4. 11.00 - 07.00 pm
Sunday Dec 5. 11.00 - 07.00 pm
Monday Dec 6. 11.00 - 10.00 pm
Tuesday Dec 7. 11.00 - 07.00 pm

Curious for more pictures? Check my visual-artist page on Facebook