Page 53 - The 70s - ABC of the material

Because of the opposites art becomes an adventure for the artist as well as for the art lover.
Simplicity is the sublimation of complexity.

Martien, the making of art is nothing more nor less than the objectifying, literally to make into an
object, or also to put observations at a distance.
In the course of history a number of agreements have been made in the visual arts about the use
of material, technique and composition which have been almost unchanged throughout the ages.
When these traditional inventions do not work anymore for a new generation, and yield a repetition
of moves, and are in content are not manageable anymore, new solutions have to be found. These
can be risky because it falls outside the tradition of recognition by repetition.

Dear Martien, at the end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties came a turnaround in
society which could be seen clearly in the visual arts. From a more rational, controlled attitude to
life (Gerhard von Graevenitz, Peter Struycken), say more Apollonisian to a developing tendency of
the Dionysian (the emotion, frenzy, superlatives)

Dear Martien, if you really do want a different way of observing, thus focusing on other topics, you
run an enormous economic risk in the ultra conservative world of professional art.
A dilemma presents itself. By teaching I pay for myself for the space and the freedom which are
necessary to create visually not-popular subjects. The road to independence was a dire necessity
to survive. Although I hate emotional art I can't escape the fact that the decisions I made in my
work also arise from my personal situation and are therefore emotionally charged. In any case
I discovered in the past that a third road is possible in order to take a stand instead of being
tossed to and fro in a process of action reaction. And that is to see things in their own capacity
independent of the historical context and meaning. One makes things timeless. A side issue
becomes the main issue as in the drawings about the hardness of pencil. Worthless things become
valuable things, a fold becomes an exciting adventure with a treasure of possibilities.
It all is within reach. In the mean time I think a lot about the essentials and end up at the necessity
of independence as driving force behind my decisions.

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