Christiaan Kuitwaard — Painter of Silence

A subtle interplay of light and shadow. A deserted beach. Silent trees in a forest. In an increasingly busy world, Christiaan Kuitwaard seeks silence. His paintings bear witness to this. In addition, with his series of 'white box paintings', he continually challenges himself to find new ways of depicting reality. And with his outdoor studies, he draws attention to the vulnerability of nature. Despite all the variety, the retrospective exhibition of Kuitwaard's art at Museum JAN in Amstelveen is above all a plea for slowing down and deepening our understanding. 

Viewing experience
The paintings of Christiaan Kuitwaard (1965) are always based on observation. "My work is figurative," says the artist. "You can see what it represents. But I don't tell stories. I am an observer, and I report on what I see." He strives to create an image that provides just enough information to capture the viewing experience and allow it to be relived again and again. In this way, he attempts to circumvent the fleeting nature of the moment and stretch time out a little, as it were. "To create an image that stays with you, it is necessary to remove as much noise as possible. You have to quiet it down." 

Afterimage
Kuitwaard is fascinated by the interplay of light and shadow, which makes things visible and at the same time constantly changes them. In his still lifes of everyday objects such as a chair or a cup and saucer, the image is mainly constructed from shades of light. In his interiors and landscapes, mostly beach and forest scenes, space is also defined by gradations of light and dark. Forms are blurred. The use of color is deliberately limited and subdued. Details are touched upon at most, not elaborated. Kuitwaard reduces visible reality to the strictly necessary, like an afterimage on the retina. His paintings thus transcend reality, but without losing touch with it. 

Refuge
 The exhibition at Museum JAN covers a period of more than thirty years of painting. A steadily growing group of enthusiasts proves the great appeal of Kuitwaard's art. The artist believes it is important that people can also express their own thoughts, experiences, or emotions in his work. "It may be blasphemous to some, but I don't really believe in art as a purely individual expression. I don't so much want to express something as I want to evoke something, namely silence, for myself and for others." In a society dominated by commotion and spectacle, Kuitwaard's paintings offer a welcome refuge.