2025/24

It started in 2024, all of a sudden I had a craving for painting skulls. Maybe it’s not so surprising when you think of Tsar Putin doing his best to conquer Ukraine under some silly pretence while it's all about the valuable resources the Ukraine has and perhaps he believes he can turn the clock back to the former USSR. Then there is the war between Israël and Hamas, the situation in Syria and the weird General of North Korea and his soon to be counterpart, (and since the beginning of 2025 he is) President Elect D. Trump.
On top of that there is global warming, major pollution on land and sea, animals, plants and insect going extinct.
A major impact was the very unexpected loss of McLovin, my trusted assistant, in February 2024.
Also reading the Shardlake novels by CJ Sansom that take place during the reign of Henry 8, 'a wonderful and most enjoyable time' 💀 added to that craving. Still a great reed though!
Now early 2025, nothing much has changed certainly not for the better.
D. Trump wants to do a Putin on Canada and Greenland -> Denmark. And he has his eye too on the valuable resources of the Ukraine.
And left and right, also in the Netherlands, governments turning to rightwing/extreme views.
My recent works confront the anxieties of war, ecological collapse, and mortality, using distorted figures and skulls to channel a profound sense of urgency, loss, and existential disquiet.
It is not the right time for me to paint funny or pleasant pictures.