Gerard Verdijk | Boxmeer, the Netherlands
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untitled, 1962
oil on canvas, 200x100cmAt a young age the artist showed an exceptional talent. This early work, dating back to the early 1960’s, is a seminal piece in his oeuvre according to the artist himself. The painting contains a dynamic composition of two balls of fire that appear to spin through a tumultuous environment reminiscent of a thunder storm. The entire composition seems to be in a state of motion as the artist creates a most potent visual image which is barely contained by the perimeters of the canvas. Verdijk puts the titanic forces of the chaos of creation at the service of his spiritual endeavours to gain serenity and peace. The results of his strenuous efforts are visualised in the latter two paintings by the artist represented in the Bueler-Bernard collection.
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untitled, 2000
acrylic paint on canvas, 150x100cmFrom the mid-1990’s Verdijk created mystical, dewy colour planes that gradually become lighter. In the painting at hand darkness still predominates, but we can see that the overall mood has calmed down. Verdijk gently stains the canvas by letting the paint bleed over the picture surface, creating an organic surface fabric. In the misty environment Verdijk infuses some element of detail; two glowing spots of golden yellow appear along the lower edge of the painting that accentuate the overall tranquility of the artwork. As the metaphysical curtain, which brings forth a brighter atmosphere, is slowly drawn down over the darkness, the two specks of light are a symbol of hope; the darkness will soon clear completely.