Statement:
In the past, before my studies in Jamaica I painted everyday scenes in a mostly realistic style. In Jamaica I was encouraged to find a theme that really speaks to my soul, so I turned to the subject that has influenced my entire life: ‘Love & Death’; The death of my father before I was born and the questions, the sadness and emptiness I have always felt because of this. I channeled those emotions through my art. My work became more abstract, emotional and impulsive. At first my paintings were somber and dark, but later on this changed and I started making more colorful paintings. The negative emotions of my fatherless youth were gradually making place for happier ones associated with my own family life and fatherhood. People change, emotions and lives are changed by personal experiences. Having my own family has inspired that change in me and in my work. My work is mostly abstract, with some degree of figurativeness. Recurring objects in my work are letters and numbers representative of communication, simplified silhouettes of figures which are usually the people who are part of the story, and a special family symbol that I always incorporate.
Missing my own father has always been, and will always be important, but at that time I primarily expressed the love and connection I share with my family. The main theme of my work was then ‘Lob Makandra’ – ‘Love each other’. Not only my paintings, but also my three dimensional art installations have recently dealt with that theme. Growing up without a father, my installations often deal with children, with special attention to children in foster homes and orphanages, who grow up without the love of a family. I hope to garner more public attention and support for these less fortunate children.
During my residency at the Vermont Studio Center in the USA in 2011, I entered yet another phase. I started contemplating again the subject of my fathers death and my work started to show darker colors once more. It took me a few years to come to terms with this change that was once more taking place. It is only recently that I have accepted that my work will always reflect the fact that the subjects of death and love, will both forever be part of my life. I have started to gradually present these works that I have been working on for some time. I am now more willing to embrace this new phase in my art, to allow the darkness as well as the color, the past as well as the present, sadness as well as happiness, to shine through in my work.
CURRICULUM VITAE 2015
VISUAL ARTIST
GEORGE STRUIKELBLOK
Website: rommysgallery.com
Education
1987 – 1991 Nola Hatterman Art Academy in Suriname
1997 – 1999 Edna Manley School for Visual & Performing Arts in Jamaica
2007 Certificate teachers college
Workshops
1990 – 1993 Ceramics in Suriname
1992 Aquarelle in Suriname
1993 Décor in Suriname
1994 Screen-printing in Suriname
1995 Etching in Suriname
2005 Abstract in Suriname
2006 Screen-printing in Suriname
2006 the-one-minute short film making in Suriname
2008 the-one-minute short film making in Suriname
2009 the-one-minute short film making in Suriname
Artistic experience
- Teaching children at the Nola Hatterman Art Academy, children aged six to twelve years old (1990 – 1992) students aged thirteen and up (1992 – till now)
- Two years experience at the secondary schools: Dennertschool & Johannes Vrolijkschool
- Holiday workshop in different centers in the country
- Since 1993 I have been a member of ‘Art 2000’ an organization for young Surinamese artists
- In 1994 a calendar was published with my work which was distributed nation wide
- Murals in different places in Suriname / Paramaribo (Diaconessenziekenhuis, NGVB stadium & Bersaba)
- The cultural centres of the Inter – American Development Bank of Washington
- The Edna Manley School for Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica (diploma) study tour, the Netherlands, America and Africa in June 2002 – September 2002 (exhibition)
- September 2002 silkscreen printing with Art Lease (Utrecht)
- September 2005 start working and the opening of Atelier Struikelblok
- In 2005 starting with the Tip Tip Landart installation
- Constructed the exhibition Zichtbaar of De Surinaamsche Bank
- In 2006, a calendar with my work was published by Vensur Suriname
- In 2007, designed and constructed the exhibition Talent of The Centrale Bank of Suriname
- In 2007, Artist in Residence in Atelier Duende in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Visited several exhibitions (2007) in Germany (Documenta 12 & Skulpter Projecte Münster) and Italy; La Biennale di Venezia (Esposozione Internazionale d’Arte)
- In collaboration with the FVAS and Atelier Struikelblok, the making and design of the Lichtjesmonument in Lelydorp, Wanica (2007)
- In 2008, Artist in Residence at Rijksakademie, Amsterdam (research project in art in public space and landart)
- In March 2010, won and received theoneminute Tommy – Award in Shanghai – China. Title of the film is ‘Portretten van Paramaribo’.
- In 2011 artist in residence at Vermont Studio Center, Vermont, USA
- Introduction 3D performance in the solo exhibition ‘Lob’ mi tu tamara’ march 2011
- Group exhibition ‘About Change’ in Washington D.C. at the Worldbank in 2012
- Since October 2013 Chairman of the FVAS – Federation of Visual Artists in Suriname
- Judge at the Guyana Art Competition and Exhibition in 2014 in Georgetown – Guyana
Exhibitions (summary from 2000)
Solo
2012 Lob’ Makandra, Galerie Huijs Basten Asbeck, Groenlo, the Netherlands
2012 Sunchi I Brasa, Gallery Alma Blou, Curaçao
2012 Metamorfose, Art Lease Ede, Nola Hatterman Gallerie and Galerie 23
2011 Bosi’s en brasa’s, Galerie 23, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2011 Lob’ mi tu tamara, Readytex Art Gallery/De Hal, Suriname
2010 Lob’ Makandra, Galerie L’ Encadrier, Cayenne, French Guiana
2010 Flits expo George Struikelblok, Galerie 23, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2010 Lob Makandra, Landhuis Bloemhof, Curacao
2009SBK Breda, the Netherlands
2008Yaadein, Artlease Utrecht, the Netherlands
2007 Rakhi in Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2007 Uit Suriname, Huijs Basten Asback, Groenlo, the Netherlands
2006 Adarsh, Readytex Art Gallery & Atelier Struikelblok, Suriname
2006 Unveiling Tip Tip landart installation Nieuw Amsterdam, Suriname
2006 Suriname Travel Organization, Switzerland
2003 Verlichting, Readytex Art Gallery, Suriname
2003 Readytex Art Gallery, Suriname
2002 Love of my life, House of Art, Suriname
2001 An Opus of Love, Waaggebouw, Suriname
2001 Zeelandia Suites, Suriname
2001 Memory, Nola Hatterman Gallery, the Netherlands
2000 Hadfield Foundation, British Guyana
2000 Krasnapolsky, Suriname
Group
2015 Art without Borders; from Suriname to Curaçao, Landhuis Bloemhof, Curaçao
2015 Opening exhibition new location Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2014 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2014 Art event the Giant painting, painting installed at JAPIN international airport at Zanderij
2014 Circus Terminal, international traveling exhibition, De Hal, Suriname
2014 WAT, Readytex Art Gallery in De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2014 Unleashed, 30 years ABKS, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2013 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2013 Carifesta XI exhibition, KKF, Paramaribo, Suriname
2013 Functionele Kunst, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2013 Cultural Currents-Miami meets Paramaribo, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2013 Guyanes>Pigments, Habitation Clement, Martinique
2013 Readytex Art Gallery Out of stock exhibition, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2012 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2012 Artist talk art project with installation of artworks at Cultural Center, Nickerie
2012 Group exhibition, Guyane Automobile, Matoury, French Guiana
2012 Revealing our stored treasures, Readytex Art Gallery/De Hal, Suriname
2011 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2011 De verleiding van Coronie, The Hague, the Netherlands
2010 Vredig, Vrij en Vriendelijk, De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 Kunst is Kracht, Readytex Art Gallery in De Hal, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 Colourful Friendship, Queens Park Gallery, Barbados
2010 Paramaribo Perspectives, TENT Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2010 Bewegter wind – moved art competition, Germany
2010 Paramaribo SPAN, DSB bank, Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2009 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2009 Utrecht Art Fair, the Netherlands
2009 AAF, France
2009 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2009 Samen, Atelier Struikelblok, Suriname
2008 Men at Work, Atelier Struikelblok, Suriname
2008 Pan Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2008 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2008 Art Nocturne Knocke, Belgium
2008 Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair, United Kingdom
2008 Nola Hatterman Art Academy, Paramaribo, Suriname
2008 Mini feature at Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2008 Anansi, Amsterdam (SBK), the Netherlands
2007 Salon de Debujo Biennale, Santo Domingo
2007 Synergy, IVCC and Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2007 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2007 Iets Anders, Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2007 A new place – Routes of Migration, Fort Zeelandia, Paramaribo, Suriname
2006 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2006 Carifesta 9, Trinidad & Tobago
2006 Holland Art Fair, The Hague, the Netherlands
2005 Open House Expo, Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2005 Arte Américas, Brasil
2005 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2005 Den Fo, Centro Andres Bello, Paramaribo, Suriname
2005 Tip Tip project, Paramaribo, Suriname
2005 Group exhibition, Brazil
2005 Readytex Art Gallery, Paramaribo, Suriname
2005 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2004 National Art Fair, Paramaribo, Suriname
2003 Coca Cola, U.S.A
2003 De erfenis van de slavernij, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2003 Carifesta 8, Suriname
2003 Great experience, Suriname
2003 Paleis van Justitie in Arnhem, the Netherlands
2003 Ilene Themen & Friends, Almere, the Netherlands
2003 Exotic Caribbean, Roosendaal, the Netherlands
2002 Art Creators, Trinidad & Tobago
2002 Buren, the Netherlands
2002 De Rode Loper, the Netherlands
2002 Hartford (group exhibition), U.S.A
2001 Contemporary Surinamese Art, Guyana
2001 Nola Hatterman Art Academy, Paramaribo, Suriname
2001 Art of the Americas, U.S.A.
2000 Carifesta 7, Nevis/St. Kitts
2000 Sur Expo, Paramaribo, Suriname
2000 Group exhibition, Brazil
Awards
2010:
- Received the Tommy award for winning of the one minutes awards 2009/ category South America for the short film Portretten van Paramaribo. The award ceremonies were held in the Dutch culture center in Shanghai on 19 March 2010
- At the second Surinamese Folklore Fashion Show in 2010 me and fashion designer Janelle Oosterling won first prize for the design which incorporated prints from my art.
Gallery
rommysgallery.com
Publications
2011 Sranan Art Xposed (SAX4) digital magazine, April 2011
2011 Conversations on Paramaribo perspectives, catalogue about the exhibition in Rotterdam
2011 About Change-In Latin America and the Caribbean, digital catalogue about the About Change Art Program of the World Bank in Washington DC, 2010/2011
2010 Wrestling with the image-Caribbean interventions, digital catalogue of the exhibition at the OAS (as part of the About Change program of the Worldbank)
2010 Paramaribo SPAN, Catalogue of the exhibition organized by/at the Surinaamse Bank (DSB) in February 2010
2007 Catalogue: Talent; Uit de kunstcollectie van de Centrale Bank van Suriname
2005 Catalogue: Zichtbaar; Uit de kunstcollectie van De Surinaamsche Bank N.V.