Much of his figurative work is about struggle
Fighting to be yourself, fighting exclusion, also has autobiographical characteristics.
In his youth, Johan was not stimulated in the field of art. The high school art teacher saw him struggling and encouraged him. In his teenage years he developed a love for (almost) surreal landscapes and a talent for photography and abstract work, consisting of color and shape.
The need to produce distinctive work did not make his adolescence easy. Desperate, not understanding his own talent, he turned away from art and destroyed everything he had created until then.
What remained was (analog) photography. In his dark room he focused on black and white. The rise of digital photography opened new doors, he started experimenting again with colors, shapes and abstract creations and eventually developed into a Digital Artist.
The journey
The journey of an artist is in any case a great journey of discovery. A search for who you are as a maker, what do you want to create, with what materials. Disappointments, frustrations, lack of inspiration, it all happens.
Johan started his 'bumpy' journey with experiments. From cheap to high-quality baryta paper, canvas, acrylic, metal, glass, epoxy, polystyrene and dibond, back to baryta paper.
In his work he is inspired by, among other things, the daring of the eccentric Dalí, the creative urge of Munch, and the working with colors and shapes of Hundertwasser and Mondriaan.
Work without title.
In his theme (from 2018) 'Nude, not naked', the female body is the canvas for new digital creations. He is not concerned with sensuality, but with expression, emotion, shapes and colours. From black and white to digitally edited. The viewer may be able to find his own story in it, without being distracted by a title.
Halfway through 2023, Johan started abstract work again, now mainly inspired by work by Pieter Mondriaan and a touch of Miro. Abstract, where it all started in high school.
Working with the three primary colors supplemented with white and black. Shapes, often made by himself, are the basis. The silhouette figures come from his archive, working with dancers and nude models.
Exhibitions, galleries.
Affordable Art Amsterdam, Brussels, Art Basel, London, Frankfurt and many Hilton hotels in Europe and one in Beijing, a small museum in Italy, museum Huizen NL, Atelierroute Huizen, Galleries in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Albania.
At the beginning of 2023, Johan ended collaborations with all galleries. Sales were disappointing, while (some) galleries continued to increase their costs.
And, he believes that a gallery should act more as a market maker than just an intermediary.
