Peter John Voormeij

Being a Dutchman and a painter, it is almost impossible not to be inspired by my fellow countrymen. I was born and raised in Amsterdam. At an early age, my father introduced me to some of the greatest paintings in the world. As a child I stood in front of Rembrandt's masterpieces. I learned to love and deeply appreciate his use of colour, and paint texture. At that time, I was even able to secretly run my fingertips gently over some of his works. 

At the age of 14, my father familiarized me with the works of Piet Mondriaan. I clearly remember my confusion. I couldn't understand the intention of this artist. I saw stark primary colour fields, outlined with a slightly quivering, black line. The paintings almost looked primitive, or decorative. I remember that these works had a serene, almost tranquil, atmosphere. They puzzled me. It took me many years to better understand what Mondriaan was aspiring for.

The paintings in my Through Dutch Eyes 2 exhibition are an interpretation of my respect for Mondriaan's imaginings of his Utopia and his profound influence on me. Mondriaan believed that "The new art is the old art free of all oppression". He aimed to teach us to look more closely at non-figurative paintings, to look beyond the spatial spread of his compositions. To see them with a sense of generosity, allowing oneself to discover elements perhaps not apparent at first sight, such as rhythm and optimism, or the bustle of big-city life.