Falling and getting up – Henk Metselaar

The bumbling human

Central to this exhibition is the impressive painting cycle Vallen & Opstaan. Over exactly sixteen years, Metselaar painted this series of 24 canvases in which he depicts the bumbling of humanity in an increasingly complex world.

Themes such as art, myth, consumption, colonialism, violence and refugees run like a common thread through the narrative paintings. The series is slightly dramatic, touching, foolish, grotesque and (un)intentionally humorous. They encourage attentive looking around the question: ‘How do you relate to the world around us?’

Vallen & Opstaan begins with the Biblical creation story (image on the left) and concludes with the end of the world (image on the right). Thus, the series shows the inevitable progression from Genesis to Apocalypse, from good to evil, from life to death. In the course of the cycle, Metselaar's world becomes increasingly restless, confusing and oppressive. According to the artist, this development reflects the increasing complexity of the reality in which humans try to find their way.

Guided tours

During the exhibition, Henk Metselaar gives guided tours of the exhibition in which he talks about his sources of inspiration and his working method. There is also a film evening in the FilmKoepel with a film selected by the artist. For more information about the activities, click here.