Hendrik Kerstens

At first glance Kerstens’ striking portraits of his daughter Paula, distinctly references the work of the Dutch Masters such as Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt. On closer inspection the viewer discovers the clever placement of modern objects, creating a humorous yet subtle link with Dutch art historical roots.

Kerstens describes: “One day Paula came back from horseback riding. She took off her cap and I was struck by the image of her hair held together by a hair-net. It reminded me of the portraits by the Dutch masters and I portrayed her in that fashion. After that I started to do more portraits in which I refer to the paintings of that era. The thing that fascinates me in particular is the way a seventeenth-century painting is seen as a surface which can be read as a description of everyday life as opposed to the paintings of the Italian Renaissance, which usually tell a story. Northern European painting relies much more on craftsmanship and the perfect rendition of the subject. The use of light is instrumental in this.”

Erwin Olaf

In 1987 Olaf began working with film, which has been an important influence on his art practice. His perfectly crafted scenes are strikingly composed, yet leave much to the imagination. His technique delivers a dramatic visual impact while often leaving the visitor curiously unsettled by the unspoken conclusions.