Ab about himself

I’ve always been fascinated by the illusion of space on a flat surface. In my first work I researched the mathematical perspective as it was developed in the Early Renaissance. The central perspective starts from a static point of view; this may look credible but does not reflect how we actually look – with a wandering eye scanning the visible world. To simulate this scanning I stretched the canvas on a curved and elongated stretcher and I combined two landscapes by Lorenzetti in one representation. In a subsequent series of works I employed other spatial structures, including the isometric and grids of diagonal and sometimes wavy screens. These structures formed the basis for architectural representations and an Escher-like play with depth, in which ‘above’ and ‘below’ are shuffled. I also examined the painterly means themselves on their spaciousness, and for instance wondered how one could paint the back of the brushstroke.In my more recent work, the spaciousness is no longer clearly orientated towards the perspective. The dimensions in my work are difficult to identify precisely. I focus on spaciousness inspired by phenomena from the topology, a branch of mathematics. For example the Klein Bottle and Möbius strip. Both refer to an endless, closed surface. A plane with seemingly two sides (front and back), but still one and the same surface causing front and back, top and bottom to overlap inseparably. Sometimes executed in a sleek and architectural way, at other times expressive by nature.The most recent works are mainly expressionist, material plays a greater role in the creation, yet it is often constructed as architecture.For me these ‘impossible’ structures represent special areas, ‘thinking spaces’ you might say. Areas where you can wander infinitely, not only with your eyes but also also mentally. These are areas in which you are absorbed as a viewer: undefined, virtual spaces where you weightlessly float and bob around like in a bathtub filled with foam, undergoing a sense of bliss.

Solo Shows

2024 Art Rotterdam, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, duo with Christian Pilz
2023 Escaping the Dichotomy, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin (with Christian Pilz)
2022 White Spaces, Galerie Van den Berge, Goes (with Gracia Khouw)
2022 Recent Paintings, Milcchhofpavillion, Berlin
2021 One-single-artwork-show, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2021 Recent Paintings, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2020 Dizziness as Illusion, EENWERK, Amsterdam (cat.)
2019 No K.O. four guts, Mon Capitaine, Middelburg
2018 Bilder, Villa Goecke, Krefeld
2017 Recent Paintings, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2016 One-single-artwork-Show, GalerieGilla Lörcher, Berlin
2015 Study for position # 4, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin (cat.)
2014 Recent Paintings, PS-Projectspace, Amsterdam
2012 Ontplofte Blik/ Explode view, Centraal Museum, Utrecht (cat.)
2012 Kunstverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf
2011 Galerie Ruth Leuchter, Düsseldorf
2011 Ab van Hanegem: Long time no sea, Marie Tak van Poortvliet Museum, Domburg
2011 Dick de Bruijn Contemporary Art, Middelburg (with Jan van der Ploeg)
2007 Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2004 Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2003 Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2001 Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2001 In Situ Gallery, Aalst (with Martijn Schuppers)
2000 Ab van Hanegem: A B, Museum De Beyerd, Breda (cat.)
2016 One-single- artwork-Show, GalerieGilla Lörcher, Berlin
2015 Study for position #4, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin (cat.)
2014 Recent Paintings, PS-projectspace Amsterdam
2012 ontplofte blik, Centraal Museum Utrecht
2012 Kunstverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf
2011 Galerie Ruth Leuchter, Düsseldorf
2011 Ab van Hanegem: Long time no sea, Marie Tak van Poortvliet Museum, Domburg
2011 Dick de Bruijn Contemporary Art, Middelburg (with Jan van der Ploeg)
2007 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2004 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2003 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2001 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2001 In Situ Gallery, Aalst (with Martijn Schuppers)
2001 Gastatelier, Willem III, Vlissingen
2000 A B, Museum De Beijerd, Breda (cat)
1999 Lokaal 01, Antwerpen (with Pieter van Unen)
1999 Art Cologne Förderkoje, Keulen (cat)
1998 Nouvelles Images, Den Haag
1997 VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
1997 Watertoren, Vlissingen
1994 Galerie AZL, Leiden
1993 Galerie art & project, Slootdorp (cat)
1992 Galerie art & project, Amsterdam (KunstRai’92)
1989 Galerie Hans Gieles, Amsterdam
1989 Galerie art & project, Amsterdam
1987 Galerie Goem, Nijmegen
1987 Life Like, Lokaal 01, Breda
1986 Rietveldpaviljoen, Amsterdam
1985 Galerie Long Time No Sea, Breda

Group Shows

2024 Focus on Abstraction, Raumimpuls, Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria
2024 100 Berliner in Ulan Bator, Mongolei
2024 20 years Glue, Berlin
2023 Rhinestones, Glue, Berlin
2023 H(a)L-het Archief, Rotterdam
2022 HakLab ,ausstellung zum 19.kunstpreis des Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin
2020 WeLikeArt@ De.Groen, Arnhem
2019 Summershow, Mon Capitaine, Middelburg
2018 Geometric, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2018 Hodge Podge, BcmA, Berlin
2017 ArtKarlsruhe, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Karlsruhe
2016 Kaleidoskop, L’oiseau presenté…, Berlin
2016 Art the Hague, WTC gallery, Den Haag
2016 Fenomenale Ruimte, Raadhuis de Pauw, Wassenaar
2016 Positions Artfair, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2016 PS in Berlin, aKunstraum Kreuzberg Bethanien, Berlin
2015 Intro, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2015 C-D-S, Glue, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
2015 Freshtest, Kunstverein-Koelnberg, Köln
2015 Reset Painting, Clemens Sels Museum, Neuss
2015 Machines Célibataires, Tekengenootschap Pictura, Dordrecht
2015 Grand Finale, Lady Fitness, Berlin
2014 O Limits, Lady Fitness, Berlin
2014 Reset Painting, Kunstmuseum Heidenheim
2014 Reset Painting, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen (cat.)
2013 Dutch Treat, Dadapost, Berlin (cat.)
2013 For the sake of paint #2, Galerie Witteveen, Amsterdam
2013 Reset Painting, Kunstmuseum Celle
2012 Reset Painting, Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam
2010 Telephone, Matthew Bown Gallery, Berlin
2010 Ab Heute, Galerie Ruth Leuchter, Düsseldorf (with H. Schuil and M. Schuppers)
2009 Multiple show, Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2008 Un nished Business, Medienzentrum, Graz (cat.)
2008 Springtime – 1, Henningsen Contemporary, Copenhagen
2006 Floating Forms, Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen (cat.)
2005 What would a world without paper be like?, Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2005 Temporary Import, Special exhibition Art Forum Berlin 2005, Berlin
2005 Verf op doek, Flatland Gallery, Utrecht (with Frans Franciscus and Bart Domburg)
2005 Later on we shall simplify things, Museum Stadsgalerij Heerlen / Centre Cultural
Andratx, Mallorca (with Tim Ayres, Jan van der Ploeg, and Han Schuil) (cat.)
2000 Suite voices #1, Galerie Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam
2000 What’s New, Galerie Eugen Lendl, Graz
2000 C (Sea), Lokaal 01, Breda (curated by Ab van Hanegem) (cat.)
2017 ArtKarlsruhe, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Karlsruhe
2016 Kaleidoskop, L’oiseau presenté…, Berlin
2016 Art the Hague, WTC gallery, Den Haag
2016 Fenomenale Ruimte, Raadhuis de Pauw, Wassenaar
2016 Positions Artfair, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2016 PS in Berlin, aKunstraum Kreuzberg Bethanien, Berlin
2015 Intro, Galerie Gilla Lörcher, Berlin
2015 C-D-S, Glue, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
2015 Freshtest, Kunstverein-Koelnberg, Köln
2015 Re:set-abstract painting in a digital world, Clemens Sels Museum, Neuss
2015 Machines Célibataires, , Tekengenootschap Pictura, Dordrecht
2015 Grand Finale, Lady Fitness, Berlin
2014 Off Limits, Lady Fitness, Berlin
2014 Re:set-abstract painting in a digital world, Kunstmuseum Heidenheim, DE
2014 Re: set Painting, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, DE
2013 For the sake of paint #2, Galerie Witteveen, Amsterdam
2013 Reset Painting, Kunstmuseum Celle, DE
2013 DutchTreat, Dadapost, Berlin
2012 Present Forever, P-Klieverink, Amsterdam-ZuidOost
2012 10 Ânos del Programa de Residencias-La Collecion del CCA, CCA Andratx, Mallorca, ES
2012 Reset Painting, Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam
2011 Cool, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam
2010 AB HEUTE, galerie Ruth Leuchter, Düsseldorf ( curated by Ab van Hanegem)
2010 TELEPHONE, Galerie Matthew Bown, Berlin
2009 MULTIPLESHOW, galerie vousetesici, amsterdam
2008 UNFINISHED BUSINESS, Medienturm, Graz
2008 SPRINGTIME-1, Henningsen Contemporary, Kopenhagen
2006 BSTRCT, Kunstruimte 09, Groningen
2006 FLOATING FORMS, Museum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen (cat)
2005 WHAT WOULD A WORLD WITHOUT PAPER BE LIKE?, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2005 TEMPORARY IMPORT, Special Exhibition Art Forum Berlin 2005, Berlin
2005 VERF OP DOEK, Flatland Gallery, Utrecht, (with F. Franciscus & Bart Domburg)
2005 LATER ON WE SHALL SIMPLIFY THINGS, Museum Stadsgalerij Heerlen, Heerlen
2005 LATER ON WE SHALL SIMPLIFY THINGS, Centre Cultural Andratx, Mallorca (with Tim Ayres, Jan van der Ploeg & Han Schuil)
2002 HOLLAND-SCHWEIZ 3 : 2, Kunsthalle Palazzo, Liestal, CH (cat)
2000 SUITE VOICES #1, VOUS ETES ICI, Amsterdam
2000 WHAT’S NEW, Eugen Lendl, Graz
2000 C (SEA), Lokaal 01, Breda (curated by Ab van Hanegem)
1998 10 YEARS CHARLOTTE KÖHLER PRIZE, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
1997 HAND-COMPUTER, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam (cat)
1997 ASYMPTOOT, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam (cat)
1997 TABLEAU VIVANT / EINDE EEUW, Pulchri Studio, Den Haag (cat)
1996 BOUWFONDSCOLLECTIE, Museum Boijmans – Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (cat)
1996 HET GEGEVEN BEELD, De Beyerd, Breda (cat)
1996 STAR PROJECTS #4, Vrieshuis Amerika, Amsterdam
1996 ACUMULUS, Lokaal 01, Breda
1995 ART & PROJECT / THE AMSTERDAM YEARS, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
1994 AUSGEWÄHLTE EUROPÄER(INNEN): 10 Jahre Künstlerförderung der Stiftung Vordemberge-Gildewart, Museum Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden (cat); Seedamm Kulturzentrum, Pfäffikon
1994 THE HIDDEN COLLECTION, KPN, Den Haag
1993 NETHER ART, West-Indisch Huis, Amsterdam (cat); Grey Art Gallery, New
York, Cultural Center, Chicago; Melnychemko, Winnipeg
1993 MORGEN GEMAAKT, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam (cat)
1993 CADAVRE EXQUIS, Drawing Center, New York
1993 MUNICIPAL ACQUISITIONS, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (cat)
1993 10 YEARS OF MUNICIPAL ACQUISITIONS, ICA, Amsterdam
1992 NOSTALGISCHE UTOPIEËN, De Waag, Leiden
1992 SER, Den Haag (cat)
1992 KOER LOCALE, W139, Amsterdam
1992 RSG Scheldemond, Vlissingen
1992 REIS NAAR HET EINDE VAN HET ATELIER, Lokaal 01, Breda (cat)
1992 PROTECTORS, Bloom Gallery, Amsterdam
1991 TUSSENBALANS, art & project, Slootdorp
1991 PROPOSAL BIËNNALE SÂO PAOLO, Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven (cat)
1991 MUNICIPAL ACQUISITIONS, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam (cat)
1991 NEW ART FROM THE NETHERLANDS, Covention Center, Los Angeles (cat)
1991 VAN LICHAAM EN GEEST, W139, Amsterdam
1991 ARS USU, Haags Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag
1991 PRESENTATIE POET STUNT, Galerie Jansen & Bäumler, Amsterdam
1991 DOUBLE DISTANCE, Kruithuis, Den Bosch (cat)
1990 SUB ROSA, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam (cat)
1990 DOORTOCHT, Bijbels Museum, Amsterdam
1989 TEKENS VAN VERZET, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam (cat)
1989 MUNICIPAL ACQUISITIONS, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam (cat)
1989 UNBEGRENZTE FREYUNG, Palais Harrach, Vienna (cat)
1988 ROYAL SUBSIDY FOR PAINTING, Koninklijk Paleis, Amsterdam
1988 FROM THE RIJKSACADEMY, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam (cat)
1986 OMNIET, WALL PAINTINGS, Politiebureau Rotterdam (cat)
1984 Royal Stables Koning Willem II, Tilburg

Commissions

1995 Paintings for geriatric clinic, Sittard
1995 Paintings for State Juvenile Detention Center, Nijmegen
1994 Table with painting for hospital, Winschoten
1994 Paintings for LUMC, Leiden
1993 Paintings for hospital Bronovo, The Hague