Five Dutch artists who have settled in the heart of France will exhibit their work this summer from July 31 to August 17 during the Dans les collines exhibition at Domaine Lavau in Néret, about three hours south of Paris. From the hills of the gentle, tranquil landscape of Le Berry, they each observe the world in their own way, through their individual themes and sources of inspiration. What unites them is their love for this relatively undiscovered part of France.
Debbie Nijland creates art that stings, confronts and challenges. Her new series The 51 Convicted will be on display for the first time at the exhibition: she painted the 51 men convicted of the sexual abuse of Gisèle Pelicot, a woman who chose to give up her anonymity and testify publicly about her abuse, thereby shifting the shame onto the perpetrators instead of the victim. Nijland’s series is a powerful indictment of the patriarchy.
Frank den Os will present a series of large-scale works in which he abstracts the French landscape that surrounds him daily. These colorful works invite viewers to look closer, to lose themselves in them, and to be absorbed. Den Os first gained recognition as a playwright but traded his pen for a paintbrush in order to respond more directly to his immediate environment.
Ivo van Woerden is known in the Netherlands for his writing in major newspapers and for his books. Through his charcoal drawings and paintings, he seeks a form of escape. The French forest landscape, humor, and love for both people and animals help him to balance the often heavy themes he writes about.
Connie Embregts also seeks humor and the origin of her surroundings in her work. Inspired greatly by animals, she looks for lightness and clarity. She creates both ceramics and paintings and hopes to offer visitors a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Jack Lockhoff uses his imagination to experiment with forms, arriving at unexpected solutions in his ceramic objects. In his work, Lockhoff searches for the beauty that is so abundantly present in the French landscape.
Dans les collines is a unique exhibition in both content and location and is free to visit from July 31 to August 17 at Domaine Lavau in Néret.
For more information about the participating artists and the location, visit www.expodanslescollines.com
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