Amsterdam artist Aat Veldhoen (1934–2018) is known for his vibrant works, his freedom, and his zest for life. He was fascinated by everything life has to offer. Death seems distant, and he didn't like to talk about it. Yet, it plays a significant role in his work. This exhibition reveals another side of the colorful, free spirit and life-loving artist Aat Veldhoen.
Death in the work of Aat Veldhoen
For Aat, sex, birth, and death were inextricably linked. Without one, the other cannot exist. He often took a casual approach to this. For example, Aat painted, drew, and photographed dancing or copulating skeletons.
War and images of human suffering recur regularly in his work, as does the symbol for radiation hazard. Aat was a news junkie and followed world events closely. He loved love and beauty and couldn't understand the violence. This fact drove him to become an activist. As a young, engaged artist, Aat rode in an ambulance and drew in a morgue. Aat wasn't afraid of death itself, but rather of the journey to it.
Death might still be okay, because you know there's no escaping it for us mortals. But how do you die? You see people dying in the most gruesome ways all around you. It's a chilling and oppressive thing. Yet, there's also something beautiful about it.
Aat's sensitive side is reflected in the drawings he made of his deceased mother and friends. He worked meticulously. They are tributes, and they also allowed him to channel his grief. "Because someone who's gone becomes a still life," says Aat.
