Willem Holtrop
Dutch, Amsterdam
1990
‘I aestheticise the countless and quickly changing images that surround us by creating a possibility to contemplate.’
At the Frank
Mohr Institute, Willem Holtrop’s approach to painting changed from analytical to practical. He started to paint instead of making installations about the characteristics of painting. Unlike the masters of the past, he was not educated as a craftsman, which he finds to be both a blessing and a curse. His process starts either with a figure (for example, a film still of a woman) or with the backdrop (for instance, a landscape). In order to create a narrative, he then searches for the right ‘actors’ in his extensive visual archive that contains many digital images, ranging from old masters to advertisements, movie stills and his own paintings. He digitally edits the depiction to get to know the composition, the lighting, the colours and the shadows of the appropriated images.What can be added to the existing images? This question, as well as the quest for a universal visual language, steers Holtrop’s creative process. The daughter of a warlord places a photograph of a woman performing in the historical context of a royal portrait. The figure from the archive is given a new meaning; the performer becomes a queen or a princess. The detailed portrait is contrasted with unfinished parts such as the peacock: Is it real, is it a marble sculpture on a fountain or is it just a cardboard prop? The tension between telling a story and the lack of information is a way for Holtrop to make the viewer slow down, take the time to reflect and interpret whether or not the painting is part of a bigger story, a meta-narrative.
CV
Education:
2009-2013 Bachelor in fine Arts, Hogeschool van de Kunsten Utrecht, Utrecht (with honors)
2015-2016 Master of Arctic research, Hogeschool van de Kunsten Utrecht, Utrecht
2015-2016 BAK Learning place, Basis voor Actuele Kunst, Utrecht
2016-2018 Master of Painting, The Frank Mohr Institute, Groningen
Shows
2013 - Graduation show HKU, Group Show, Hogeschool van de Kunsten Utrecht, Utrecht
Amongst featured artists: Ingmar König, Doenja Likumahua, Matea Bakula
2016 - Graduation Show MaHKU, Group Show, Academiegalerie, Utrecht
Curated by ; Markus Miesen
Co-Produced by: Henk Slager, Maria Hlajova
Amongst featured artists: Marija Angelovska, Ola Hassanain, Felipe Zapata, Chego Check
2016 - “Four Artists, 30 min. of spit”, Group Performance, Basis voor Actuele Kunst , Utrecht
Participating artists: Felippe Zepatta, Marija Angelovska , Chego Chek
2016 - Artist and Curator, Group Show, Koepelzaal Praediniussingel, Groningen
Curated by: Belinda Hak
Amongst featuring: Lisa Smithson , Wouter van der Laan, Hannes Arvid Andersson
2017 - a Closer look at Painting, Group Show, Koepelzaal Praediniussingel, Groningen .
Amongst featured artists: Jochem van de Wijngaard, Irene de Boer
2017 - FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Group Museum Show, Drents Museum - De Nieuwe Kolk, Assen
Amongst featured artists: Irene de Boer, Liao Zhixin, Nokukhanya Langa
2017 - Work in Progress 2.0the Sequel, Groep Show, Drents Museum, de Nieuwe Kolk, Assen
Amongst featured artists:
2018 - Filler II, Group show, Sign Project Space, Groningen
Amongst featured artists: Joris Strouken, Kristel Geerts, Wayne Horse, Takeshi Ikeda
2018 - Kill the curator, Group Show, Koepelzaal Praediniussingel, Groningen
Collaboratif installation with: Carmen Hartmann
2018 - Tiny Art Exhibition,Group show, Living Gallery, Turfsingel 66B, Groningen
Curated by: Anna-Rosja Haveman, Vanessa van t’ Hoogt
Amongst featured artists: Irene de Boer, Jochem van de Wijngaard, Roos van Dijk
2018 - Platform for Talks, Group show, Koepelzaal Praediniussingel, Groningen
Amongst featured artists: Koen van Zandvoort, Henry Byrne, Andriana Plagketi, Roos van Dijk
2018 - Headliners: Master in Painting, Graduation Show FMI, Suikerunie, Groningen.
Curated by: Ruud Akse
Amongst featured artists: Irene de Boer, Roos van Dijk, Liao Zhixin, Nokukhanya Langa, Lisa Smithson
Job Positions
2017 Co-Curator, FOMO, Group Show, Drents Museum - De nieuw Kolk, Assen
2017 - 2018 Teacher function, STEK Art collective, Ermelo
2017 - 2018 Member of Accreditation Committee, Frank Mohr Institute, Groningen
2017 - 2018 Member of Admission Committee, Frank Mohr Instituut, Groningen