Everything is one.

Everything is one. It means that we are all part of a larger whole. We influence ourselves, others and the whole world – the universe. And the universe affects us.

I’ve thought about this for a long time. I always wanted to capture the miracle of what it is to be human in a single picture. But I didn’t know how to turn this idea into practice.

Painting is a supreme discipline for me. I’ve been painting since I was a child. There was also a time when I was afraid that it would not fulfil me. Painting alone wasn’t enough for me to be able to fully express myself. The technique I had learned was too old school for my intention to transform life. My vision of my painting was blurry. My conundrum was that I felt I had a real desire, but if it wasn’t being fulfilled, there was something missing. I went different paths. They went up and down. Experience is the best teacher: how to make successes out of failures. Failing is … what’s not meant to be. Success is amazing– and so is failure.

I’m grateful for the progress I made in recent years, in knowing that I took steps forward, I can appreciate the effort I put in and gauge what I need to do to get where I want to be.

I’m coming back to my painting. Today more than ever I have to stay fresh and open to new paths. I focus on truly important things in life. A balanced life is the key to my art.

The principle is actually always the same: get up relatively early and then do meaningful things. Self-discipline is for me the highest form of self-love.

My current series comes easily to me. I had to take a long run to get here.

Now, it goes exactly the way it should. 

The new pictures are sustainable. I use whatever is available as a resource. It means, I remove my early paintings from their frames. They are my base for the new ones. I’m a part of the picture. My body is the tool. It brings me pictures from my subconscious. It is my memory, connection and evolution. I draw my body on the back of the previous paintings. The matrix is created. The matrix is the base for the upcoming painting. However, it is constructed as a means of exploring the concept of rhythm, balance and imbalance. The interaction between colour and form is also important to me, the way they communicate with one another.

The canvas is stretched on frames. The previous painting is on the back, the matrix is on the front. 

Painting on raw canvas is like painting with watercolours. My reward is this soft flow of colour. It is a fairly difficult technique and I am just beginning to experiment with it, but I like the possibilities that I see thus far. 

The lines on the canvas guide me. I use them to guide myself. The complete guide is a step-by-step path to self-discovery and development. 

The picture has two sides. What's behind it brings me higher.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (back side)

2015

Acrylic/Oil on canvas, 180x150cm

"Mount Shasta" (front side)

2020

Mixed Media on canvas, 180x150cm

I go through this process with full attention. There is a force stronger than anything else. 

It feels good to continue this direction.

With every painting I learn something new every day. 

I sense the work as a continuous research project, exploring the coexistence of balance and imbalance from the physicality to the mind.