Interview

Nov 9

Willem van der Krieken

Willem van der Krieken is a 42-year-old creative entrepreneur. He has worked for over 20 years in the digital world of 3D design, advertising, and software development.

To push the boundaries of his mind, Willem uses analog media, and explores the world beyond imagination.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“In 1999, I attended St. Lucas Creative Academy where I studied 3D visualizing and commerce. As a young student, I used my drawing and painting skills for conceptualization. After finishing at the academy, I started my own creative agency and kept on painting for my personal development.
After getting more and more positive feedback on my personal work, I got inspired and decided to show my work to a larger audience.”

What inspires you most?

“People are my greatest inspiration. I’m amazed every time I look at the great diversity of humanity. Sometimes I’m dumbfounded by the idiocy, sometimes surprised by the grandeur, and sometimes stunned by brilliance.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“In my latest collection, Pin Up Girls from the 20s, I try to paint a picture of the contemporary ideal image of women, and how they manifest themselves on various social media — the contradiction of the ideal of beauty, the absurdity of physical adaptations, and how society reacts and deals with this.”

“When I make contact with people, I feel I’m developing myself.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work is a combination of expressionism, figurative art, and combining old oil paint techniques with a twist.”

Which artists influence you most?

“This is very diverse, and ranges from the romantic painters such as Carravagio, all the way to the more modern works by Monet. What fascinates me is the use of color and the illusion of light.”

What is your creative process like?

“I begin by searching for the right mood, then I look for visual inspiration. After that, I just start painting. I try not to think too much and let the form follow the pencil.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“By creating art, I try to show a different perspective. I try to make people think about what they see, how they react, and the various consequences of their behavior.”