Known for his innovative approach to figurative painting, Arjen continues to push the boundaries of anatomical representation by deconstructing and reassembling the human body into surreal and thought-provoking compositions. His newest oil-on-canvas piece exemplifies this practice, combining recognizable yet distorted elements to create an ambiguous form that is at once unsettling and harmonious. By juxtaposing unexpected details, the work challenges viewers to reconsider the human figure and its conventional portrayal in art.
Arjen’s artistic evolution reflects his deep engagement with art history and modernist traditions. His early years were shaped by the technical mastery of Dutch Golden Age painters such as Rembrandt and Jacob van Ruysdael, while later influences include the radical abstraction and distortion of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Arjen also draws on ethnographic art, incorporating diverse visual vocabularies into his practice. The minimalist evolution of Piet Mondrian informs his pursuit of simplicity within the complexity of his compositions, resulting in works that are both visually striking and conceptually rich.
His creative process begins with intuitive sketches, often inspired by fleeting observations from daily life. From these sketches, Arjen reimagines the human form by stripping it of conventional logic, reshaping anatomy into novel configurations that retain a sense of internal coherence. This interplay between abstraction and the familiar allows Arjen to explore themes of identity, perception, and the limits of figuration, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant vision.
At Art Rotterdam 2025, Arjen’s newest works will underscore his ability to fuse surrealism with a minimalist sensibility, creating a dynamic tension between the two. Presented by Marian Cramer Projects, his work invites the audience to engage with the complexities of his visual language, offering a fresh perspective on the evolving possibilities of figurative art.