Pietertje van Splunter

Date: 27 February - 28 March 2004

Pietertje van Splunter (born 1968, lives and works in The Hague) plays with the boundaries of painting in her work and explores what painting is or could be. She is curious about what takes place behind the façade of the flat surface, about the subconscious secret world that lies beyond our field of vision. In her exhibition at the Toussaintkade, a gallery is turned inside out, and the paintings have fallen apart into separate elements. The paintings are no longer limited to paint on canvas but become a three-dimensional image you can step into and walk through. This staging has no definitive form—the work is never finished and can always be reconfigured, wholly or in part.

Michael van Hoogenhuyze wrote in the information sheet released alongside the presentation: "This is an exhibition by a painter, but one should not expect white walls with paintings. Pietertje van Splunter uses the painter's attitude to intervene decisively and transform the space so that the viewer can experience an adventure of shifting meanings."

Painting is always the starting point for Pietertje van Splunter, both in its autonomous form and when applied in a specific situation. A good example of the latter is the monumental artwork she created in 2003 for the insurance company Delta Lloyd at their headquarters at Laakhaven in The Hague. This work features bright colors and optical distortions.

Pietertje van Splunter studied drawing and painting at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and is a well-known figure in The Hague's art scene. She is actively involved as a board member of the artist initiative Quartair and is part of a vibrant international network of artist-run initiatives.