Exhibition by Ben Rikken - “Italiaanse Landschappen”.

Ben Rikken says:

“The journey with my field donkey started at the Reitdiep around Garnwerd, a picturesque village near the city of Groningen, goes via France, Cornwall, Norway (the North Cape), Italy and Spain, and at intervals back to Groningen.

Along the way I have experienced and painted various types of landscape: often in small series to study the diversity in the various moods with my characteristic brushwork, my personal handwriting. Sometimes I work on these studies in the studio on a larger format.

Having started on the banks of the Reitdiep, my way of painting was initially quite tonal. It changes gradually through the muddy low tide along the Normandy coast, the storms that crash against the Brittany rocky coast, the enchanting snow and the piercing cold around the North Cape, the Ligurian coasts and the golden slopes of Umbria. To alternate, with a strong and balanced palette, Italy with the landscape of the Spanish east coast with the always warm afternoon light in the back.

Characteristic of my work is the often extreme color scheme, but chosen in such a way that the painting creates a harmonious impression.

At the Italian Cultural Institute I present a selection of the paintings and drawings I made in Italy.”

Concert

During the opening evening there will be a concert by the duo Elisabeth Rikken, pianist and niece of Ben Rikken, and Anna Nagy, cellist, who will reveal the choice of musical pieces on site.

The opening will take place on Friday, November 3 at 6:30 PM and will be open to the public until Friday, December 1.