Artist: Hennie van der Vegt
Technique: oil paint
Date of exhibition: October 11 - November 10, 2002

Solo-exhibition Van der Vegt

From the 11th of October till the 11th of November the full-blooded painter Van der Vegt exhibits an impressive series of oil paintings. The series centres not only his most recent flower-paintings, but consists also of still lifes, dog portraits, (farm)animals, nudes and portraits.

Hennie van der Vegt was born in the small village of Dalfsen in 1953. He lived near a farm, and grew up with animals, the pastures and the barns. He starts drawing at a very early age. When he is 21 years of age he is admitted to the Academy Minerva, where he is taught, amongst others, by Mathijs Röling and Ben van Voorn.

 Hennie van der Vegt, Eye, o/p
Hennie van der Vegt, Eye, o/p

Hennie van der Vegt, Rob van Tour, o/p, 110x65cm.
Hennie van der Vegt, Rob van Tour, o/p, 110x65cm. | zoom |

Only one year after his studio in Groningen burns down to the ground. The born countryman then makes a peculiar and fruitful move to the capital city of Amsterdam and its environs; to a studio/house in one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam, and to a studio/stable at the rural village of Ruigoord, amidst animals, pastures and barns. There he keeps his horse and his paint and he breaks into a gallop to make up for burnt time. Many series come into being: flowers, animals, still lives, and nudes in every skin colour. All painted at breakneck speed, on ten square centimetres or on ten square meters. Size is a side issue and the paint is hardly getting time to dry.

At the turn of the century he drops his confusing (because feminine) first name. What remains, is a militant Van der Vegt (The Dutch "Vegt" could be read as "Fight"). A bold painter. Sometimes he comes a cropper, but most of the time he strikes very colourful blows. In Ruigoord he is at home. It is a true refuge for militant and colourful people, though Van der Vegt remains partly participant, partly observer.

Recently he has started working on a new series: the Ruigoordvariations. One after another they appear: birds of different feathers, roaming around the yard. Van der Vegt puts them right in front of his easel and captures them in the space of their liberty.

Hennie van der Vegt, Four Ruigoortvariations, o/p, 4x 110x65cm.
Hennie van der Vegt, Four Ruigoortvariations, o/p, 4x 110x65cm. | zoom |

All that is needed is a watchful eye, and a hand that can give free rein, but also knows the exact moment to tighten the reins.

« Archive |