Hans Broek

Abstract

"The central theme in the oeuvre of Hans Broek (b. 1965) is the depiction of the landscape. He often paints locations where history has left an indelible mark and on which the artist reflects, in keeping with his creed that art should jolt you awake. He finds his inspiration all around the world: a telegraph pole under a dark, cloudy Spanish sky; modern bungalows on the outskirts of LA; melting ice caps in Greenland; and wind-blown, rainy landscapes on the Atlantic seaboard in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. But Broek is also moved by the ugly slavery past of the Netherlands. This led to a comprehensive series of paintings in which dungeons, cell doors and plantation houses serve as silent witnesses to Dutch involvement."-- On back of cover.