Expositie ‘G/EEN TWEE’

Simultaneously with the presentation of Mathisse Arendsen at the COBRA Museum in Amstelveen, Beeldend Gesproken is having a solo exhibition of his work. Mathisse Arendsen [Goes, 1948-2022] developed a female alter ego at a young age. The girl Ana ‘is lived her whole life with and in him. She was supportive and sweet at times, but her energy could also take on demonic forms. The alter ego arose from traumatic experiences in his youth that led to the development of dissociation and schizophrenia.

In the many paintings that Mathisse Arendsen made in his life, we often see duality depicted. Arendsen didn’t just experience his feminine side on canvas; in reality he often dressed feminine. Arendsen’s oeuvre is characterized by different styles with periods in which, in addition to the male-female duality, religion and esotericism played an important role. Arendsen gave the subconscious a lot of space while painting: “The painting is not the sum of its parts, but it forms a whole that consists of extremes in form and color. This produces a kind of tension in which the viewer is handed the key to the subconscious”.

Mathisse Arendsen called himself a dualist and explored numerous styles and techniques in his series of works. Mathisse Arendsen passed away in 2022. He left behind a large amount of work, a selection of which is managed by Beeldend Gesproken. The work of Mathisse Arendsen, together with the work of Priscilla Koopman can be seen from 3 April to 14 May at the COBRA Museum in Amstelveen. In addition to the exhibition Becoming Ovartaci, Beeldend Gesproken has put together a presentation