Making it real
Updated: 2013-03-15 09:39
By Zhang Zixuan (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
Zeus en Nemesis, by Jan Worst. Photo provided to China Daily |
"I don't know who I am, so I allow everything that comes out of my mind to become a painting," Akkerman explains. "When I die, all my paintings together form an entire Akkerman."
The Dutch painter always portrays himself in three-quarter profile, from either the right or the left side.
However, the use of colors, the dynamic of the lines and even the painting styles in Akkerman's works change significantly from piece to piece, as if they all come from different painters.
Putting women on the map |
A fascination with wood |
For example, one of the portraits created in 1985 is entirely composed of dots. Yet another one made last year features a barely recognizable man formed by curves.
The 56-year-old says he painted with the help of a mirror at first. But in recent years he has painted only from his imagination.
"These paintings are like a diary that records various feelings and moments. Therefore, I never destroyed the bad ones.
"I don't care about composition or perspective. I have an idea, and I paint it. It comes from the heart, not from the brain," he says.
But coming from the country which has bred the renowned Dutch school and the two greatest self-portrait painters - Rembrandt (1606-1669) and Van Gogh (1853-1890) - Akkerman sticks to methods passed down from the old masters.
For instance, he only paints on boards. And he uses Tempera.
"Akkerman's works are genuinely European. Some of the colors he uses would never be mixed by Chinese artists," Chen says.
Like Akkerman, Chinese artist Mao Yan has been portraying the same person for years. But his subject is Thomas, an overseas student from Luxemburg that he met in China in 1998.
"I'm portraying Thomas and I'm not portraying Thomas. The 10 portraits of his could be 10 different people. And even objects have the nature of a portrait," Mao explains.
Gray figures in his paintings are observed from odd angles, and haloed out of the background.
Related Stories
Artists in tune with global audiences 2013-03-14 09:28
Classical China 2013-03-13 16:57
Accidental artists 2013-03-12 09:45
Technology transforms art sharing 2013-03-08 10:31
Art beat ... finger on the pulse 2013-03-08 10:29
Under the hammer 2013-03-08 09:56
Today's Top News
Police continue manhunt for 2nd bombing suspect
H7N9 flu transmission studied
8% growth predicted for Q2
Nuke reactor gets foreign contract
First couple on Time's list of most influential
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |
Firms crave cyber connection |