'Ode to the Landscape' exhibition at the Mondrian House. Some of Mondrian's early works are on display, along with works by contemporary artists. It also includes the works of Suus Kooijman.
In this interview by Riske van der Zee, Suus discusses her work, motivations and exhibition Ode to the landscape.
When Suus just started painting, she was looking for a 'rough skin' on the canvas. In my studio, I saw a candle lying around and I started experimenting with that. ,,The melted candle wax gave a nice effect but unfortunately proved not future-proof. I delved further into the ancient technique of the Greeks and Romans. encaustic, which means burning in. They mixed molten beeswax pigments and resins. This was used to paint the surface. A heated knife was used to rework the scene to get the image deeper into the substrate."
Old technology in a modern guise
,,I have given this technique a modern twist. I build up the layers of beeswax and pigments and then use a gas flame, a heated palette knife, a hot iron to get the desired effects. This creates images in which I intervene when I find it necessary. I work with the material, as it were, adding elements, and possibly deleting things until I find the image strong enough."
Suus started painting in 2000, often drawing inspiration from material decay, such as old industrial buildings, tattered walls, or architectural elements. Even her studio floor serves as inspiration. The works she creates are subject to the environment, the weather. I also love stillness, looking for emotion rather than words.
When making series (such as Isselt & Eem), she does a lot of research beforehand and while working, she regularly refines. Although she doesn't have much patience herself, she has to be patient because the material forces her to do so. You also have to be able to be impulsive, show guts and trust that things will work out.
Summerland - Suus Kooijman, beeswax and pigments on panel, 2020, 16 x 20 x4 cm
Unique emotion in work
Suus works at her best when she gets animated and can work in a flow. Yet planning and organisation are also necessary. She collaborates with several galleries at home and abroad. This is where she regularly receives requests for new and larger work. A similar request recently came from Belgium, and then, of course, the agenda has to be adjusted. But agenda or not, it is Suus' inner need to make something that keeps driving her to the studio. At openings of her exhibitions, she notices that people are often gripped by a particular work. It seems as if that person makes contact with the unique emotion in that work.
Suus admires Mondrian's abstract work as well as his earlier work. She herself has always used abstraction and naturalistic forms in all kinds of mixtures. In some periods, abstraction strongly dominates; currently, she more often uses naturalistic or photographic-like elements in her work. She calls Mondrian's work "truly autonomous" and she values this for herself as well.
In any case, the writer of this interview is very impressed. You keep seeing new angles, you keep looking and feeling the emotions. The photos do not do justice to this beautiful work, you have to see it in real life.
Read more about exhibition Ode to the landscape.
