I was born in Oirschot in 1967, which is a mostly wooded area in the south of the Netherlands. I was always drawing during my youth, and I ended up studying printing methods and graphic design after secondary school. I decided to take it more seriously in 2008: I had my first exhibition, I went to art academy a year later, and I started renting my own art studio a year after that. I’ve been living in Zaltbommel since the mid 90s, which is a small city in the centre of the Netherlands on the river the Waal. I enjoy the open river landscape and the wide views. I moved to the city centre of Zaltbommel in 2015 with my girlfriend.

Tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences?

Years ago I painted tranquil landscapes, inspired by river landscapes and the Wadden area, which is an open wetland area in the north of the Netherlands. The landscapes I painted quickly started to change into divisions of horizontal planes with occasional suggestions of clouds and vegetation. Tranquility, space and stillness were important themes. I realised that the landscape was no longer the objective and so I told myself to stop painting the horizon. That was the moment where I started to abstract the suggestions of clouds and vegetation. This ultimately led to the shapes and objects that I make today. It’s purely about the shape, the matter, and the colour, and I have completely let go of the point of origin, which is the landscape. 

I'm searching for the ultimate shape,

a shape that represent nothing

yet means everything.

Old drawings and collages I made when I was in kindergarten have been influencing my work this past year. The more direct and unfiltered aspect of that really appealed to me. It made my work a lot more free, spontaneous and joyful, which I really like, although tranquility, space and stillness are still very important themes.

Tell us a bit about your creative process?

When you make non-figurative art like me, there aren't any boundaries or frameworks for the work you create, which is why it’s important that I give myself assignments and instructions, so that I decide what the framework is in which I want to operate. I usually work in phases of three or four months. I start off with small works, I try new things and I gain new insights as I work, which always build on earlier periods. One work always inspires the next one. I slowly move on to bigger works and I see themes arise within sets of works. 

I never used to give my works titles because I thought they would guide the viewer too much, but I have been titling my works for a few years now. I like titles that are plainly descriptive, no poetic titles that are emotionally charged.  The title tells the viewer what they see, what it is, or tells something about the shape and the colour. For example: Upright rectangle with missing corner at bottom right in anthracite or Silly pink shape with black patch.

How has the pandemic affected your creativity and how do you see the world changing?

Initially I was able to concentrate on my work better because of the pandemic and the lockdown. Unfortunately I’ve not been able to work for six months after that because of some health issues. I started working again in the autumn of 2021. The pandemic doesn’t influence the content of my work. 

The world is changing, we lose many of the securities we once had, it’s becoming harder and many things are polarising more and more. I realise that life in the Netherlands is good and I’m happy that I get to spend much of my time on my art. My quest satisfies me very much. 

Who do you consider to be an icon of our time?

I don’t really have any heroes or icons. I respect anyone who tries the best they can and loves the people around them, their surroundings, and the world. Everyone does things their own way. 

What does wellbeing mean to you, and what do you practice?

It’s important to me to find joy in what I do and to stay healthy. I choose to spend more time in my studio to make art instead of making money. I try to have a healthy lifestyle and I’m happy that way. I don’t need much to be happy. 

Anything else you would like to share?

Be kind to each other. 

www.keesvandewal.com