 |  |
Giuliana Mazzola
L'uomo che non c'รจ, 2006
Henk Olijve's painting is concentrated in small images of an almost comic strip cut. The oil technique is really rigorous and reminds the great technical tradition of Dutch painting. Instead, his painting prospective is modern in the choice of themes, with an unique character of an almost military appearance that acts his part in unlikely backgrounds, empty of every decorative element.
What are the space's limits of Henk Olijve? There are no points of reference, no prospective; there is only a Man, who walks, fluctuates, acts and who tries to give a meaning to his presence in that place. Sometime other Men fight and act with him; like an obsession, the antagonists of the protagonist have his same aspect, they are his doubles. Olijve portrays himself in his paintings with the help of photos. He uses his image as a tool to create performances with a strong ritual character. This can be a simple action, but also be combined with an object. Because he sets this role as a protagonist in an indefinable space, he evokes feelings of estrangement rather than of recognition. The environment functions as an expressive setting. Olijve wishes to encourage the spectators to use their own intellect in their quest to explain everything. This produces more questions than answers.
|
|
|
