Pierre van Dijk
Born in 1950, Pierre Van Dijk was largely influenced by the 1960s.
“Studying and working has begun and will never end”
At the age of 4, Pierre knew that he wanted to start drawing and painting in peace. When he was ten he got his first 'real' oil paint set with palette and canvas.
In 1954 the “van Dijk” family moved to The Hague. and there Pierre studied after his HBS “Monumental painting” from 1967 to 1972 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and subsequently obtained his MO certificate, so that he could start teaching.
In the period from 1968 to 1974 he also studied at the Free Academy The Hague under the personal guidance of George Lampe, Rector of the Academy and Livinus van der Bunt, Rector and Light artist. (“inventor” and designer of the light show for the English band Pink Floyd, among others.)
In 1977 Pierre moved to Gorinchem and became a member and board member of “Pictura”, the oldest drawing society in the Netherlands in Dordrecht. After a number of modern artprojects, he returned to his hometown in 's-Hertogenbosch in 1984.
The then authoritative art magazine in the Netherlands “Kunstbeeld” (Kunstbeeld discontinued on 13-July-2015 ) invites Pierre for an exhibition at Gallery 54. - New York (Gallery 54 closes after 35 years on 31-01 -2019 ).
This was a success and a reason for Pierre to move to the US in 1989 for a number of years where, in addition to his free work, he was associated as an Art Professor at Lock Haven University (Pennsylvania). And in New York became acquainted with the work of artists such as;
Willem de Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Joan Mitchell, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still, Arshile, Gorky Adolph, Gottlieb, Philip, Guston, Franz Kline.
Which left a great impression, but during this period a growing interest in impressionism developed in the background and eventually Pierre returns to Europe.
In 2000 Gallery Pierre opened its doors at Postelstraat 68 in “s-Hertogenbosch” NL. The Atelier and Gallery was located here for five years when, after a visit to France, Pierre felt the time was right for a new challenge and decided to move his Atelier and Gallery to France. In the winter of 2004 / ’05, Pierre starts the preparations and moves to Beynac-Et Cazenac in the Dordogne in March.
In 2019 Pierre will return to his hometown of s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. and he starts his "Atelier Pierre van Dijk" in Empel - s-Hertogenbosch
Together with his good friend and sculptor John van Nistelrooij, he organizes an exhibition from 29-12-'19 to 02-02-'20 with the theme "LIGHT".
As a reaction to the terrible events and changes in the world, Pierre abandons Impressionism as a movement and focuses on abstract Expressionism, not completely unknown to him (see the 1970s to the 1990s). Pierre believes that given these changes, he can better shape and express his emotions in abstract expressionism.
Colorful clusters and lively vibratos characterize the work of the abstract expressionist and synesthete Pierre. As a synesthete, Pierre uses form and color to make his perception of music visible. This perception is called synesthesia. The experience "synesthesia" lies with the beholder, listener and is an individual experience.
Synesthesia is the neurological phenomenon in which a sensory perception inadvertently also evokes one or more other sensory impressions. Although it is not uncommon for sensory perceptions to influence each other, this is so strong in synesthesia that, for example, colors are tasted or sounds are seen.
Pierre's contact details:
www.artpierre.com
pierre.vandijk@gmail.com
+31(0)683245276
Atelier address:
Burgemeester Godschalxstraat 68
5236 AC Empel.
