Sjaak Kooij

In my work I use elements of actuality, such as social, cultural or political issues that define our times. I take images from media and everyday events – alternated with footage from my personal archive – out of their original context, which creates an exciting interaction between image and content. As a result the spectator will be confronted with these contemporary topics in an entirely different way.

Themes as anonymity, estrangement, individualism and transience play a big role in the artwork. These themes – occasionally in an absurd staging – confront the spectator with the ideas and posed questions I put in. Hereby not taking position, but rather allowing the viewer to experience.

The work represents a search for boundaries, in which technique and image merge into a whole. Imagining these extremes manifests itself in dynamics and strong contrasts. The work derives partly
from the expressionistic method or is rather staged as substantive contrast. The different contrasts are not only reflected in content, but also in technique and design. Due to a layered method of working the painting will create a dialogue with itself during the process.

The act of painting itself, working with different materials with paint as it...

AHK Amsterdam Art school in fine art and education, 2000- 2005.

2021
This Art Fair
KunstRai

2020

zomertentoonstelling – Art WTC The Hague
duo show with Pieter Lemmens
17 jul – 4 oct 2020

This Art Truck
6 – 7 jun The Hague – Rotterdam

solo – galerie Bart Amsterdam
show runs 15-2 / 17-5

This art fair, Amsterdam [cancelled]
21-5 tot 24-5 2020

past:
2019

group, ‘ Nieuwe Helden’, Art Zaanstad, 12 oct – 24 nov 2019
artfair, Art The Hague, solo presentation – Den Haag, Triple A projects, 2-5 October 2019
group, Repopulations part of United Nations ‘climate week’ program, broadway stages gallerie, New York City, 21-29 september 2019
artist residency, the Mothership, New York City 2019
artfair, The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn Expo Center, New York City, 2-5 may 2019
group, Checkmate, BCMA Berlin, 24 April- 12 May 2019
group, House For Sale, Apeldoorn, 14 April-12 May 2019
group, Great artist Steal, PopInnArt, Loods 6, Amsterdam, 12-14 April 2019
solo, Galerie Windkracht 13 – Den Helder, 20 Jan – 17 March 2019