#kusderop

[rvda]

It’s my birthday! Therefore I’m channeling my inner Keith Haring: Forever Young! I actually turned 24 today, but laughed twice as much, so you còuld say I turned 48. You all have a lovely day as well, Kusderop! . . . #keithharing https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpjzn4poiiS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

Zit jij er warmpjes bij? Vast niet.. bij ‘iedereen en z’n moeder’ staat de thermostaat kouder in deze energie crisis. Maar stel je voor géén verwarming te hebben.. in een winter die tot -20 gaat.. ik kreeg zojuist via Jasper Mens deze tekst: “Ha Reinier, hoe gaat het? De afgelopen drie maanden heb ik samen met Jeroen Ketting de basis gelegd voor deze campagne. Het gaat om houtkachels die op kosten van Lifeline Ukraine worden gemaakt in Oekraïne en worden verspreid aan Oekraïners die het hard nodig hebben. Deze campagne is zeer actueel omdat steeds meer mensen door de Russische bombardementen zonder stroom komen zitten. Het goede van deze campagne is dat er nauwelijks overheadkosten zijn dus voor € 190 koop je een kachel en kan je een Oekraïens gezin deze winter warmte geven. De organisatie heeft een AMBI status, waardoor de donaties fiscaal aftrekbaar zijn. Zou je willen doneren? En sta je achter deze campagne, zou het fijn zijn als de link doorstuurt naar familie en vrienden. Mocht je willen doneren, dan kan dat via https://www.gofundme.com/f/lifeline-urkaine Met hartelijke groet, Jasper” Bij deze deel ik zijn woorden en dus dit initiatief, de link staat in mijn bio. Als jouw energierekening eigenlijk helemaal niet hoger is en je de steun van de overheid dus stiekem niet nodig hebt, of je hebt gewoon genoeg geld om je eigen warme huis te kunnen betalen en hebt dat geld van de overheid dus ook niet nodig.. op deze manier kun je naast je huis ook je hart verwarmen!! (Haha! Lekker klef!) Denk er maar over na.. Kusderop. https://www.instagram.com/p/CllSf16IysS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

mr @femidawkins, mr Femi Dawkins, MR FEMI DAWKINS!!! So proud of you! Winning the @gieskesstrijbisfonds Podium Award.. I raise my hands, I raise my glass and I bow my head for you.. You’ve earned it for your vision, and your vision will dazzle us even more. . This portrait was lensed at mr @jamesveenhoff ‘s B-Day-Bash some years ago.. . Mr #femidawkins won the #gieskesstrijbispodiumprijs alongside @katemoorecomposer whom I also congratulate with this milestone in her, both their, very creative careers.. #kusderop. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiuukxOo_Vu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

mr @femidawkins, mr Femi Dawkins, MR FEMI DAWKINS!!! So proud of you! Winning the @gieskesstrijbisfonds Podium Award.. I raise my hands, I raise my glass and I bow my head for you.. You’ve earned it for your vision, and your vision will dazzle us even more. . Mr #femidawkins won the #gieskesstrijbispodiumprijs alongside @katemoorecomposer whom I also congratulate with this milestone in her, both their, very creative careers.. #kusderop. (bij RVDA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiuuJM3ojAr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

mr @femidawkins, mr Femi Dawkins, MR FEMI DAWKINS!!! So proud of you! Winning the @gieskesstrijbisfonds Podium Award.. I raise my hands, I raise my glass and I bow my head for you.. You’ve earned it for your vision, and your vision will dazzle us even more. . This performance was lensed at mr @jamesveenhoff ‘s B-Day-Bash some years ago.. . Mr #femidawkins won the #gieskesstrijbispodiumprijs alongside @katemoorecomposer whom I also congratulate with this milestone in her, both their, very creative careers.. #kusderop. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiuuaSmoWlU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

Men about town, Finkers&Vrienten. Rest in peace mr Henny Vrienten.. Doe Maar, you deserve it. Strength to all who were close to him, and I think I speak for so many when I say: thank you for the music. #kusderop. . #hennyvrienten #doemaar #rip (bij Koninklijk Theater Carré) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcyAsxNo0yX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

Mr Henny Vrienten with mic and guitar at the Royal Theatre Carré. . Rest in peace mr Henny Vrienten.. Doe Maar, you deserve it. Strength to all who were close to him, and I think I speak for so many when I say: thank you for the music. #kusderop. . #hennyvrienten #doemaar #rip #carre #guitar #artist (bij Koninklijk Theater Carré) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcyAkMEo9iz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

Mr Henny Vrienten in Carré. . Rest in peace mr Henny Vrienten.. Doe Maar, you deserve it. Strength to all who were close to him, and I think I speak for so many when I say: thank you for the music. #kusderop. . #hennyvrienten #doemaar #rip (bij Koninklijk Theater Carré) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcyAVxCotmI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

Men about town, Finkers&Vrienten. Rest in peace mr Henny Vrienten.. Doe Maar, you deserve it. Strength to all who were close to him, and I think I speak for so many when I say: thank you for the music. #kusderop. . #hennyvrienten #doemaar #rip (bij Koninklijk Theater Carré) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcxuZT6I3Ld/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rvda]

“Always nicer in print” he wrote on Instagram. Sieb Posthuma.. INK. Sieb was such a joyeus person: When Sieb and I talked Art, he sometimes spoke of darker work than the bright and colourful illustrations the world knew him for. So when I asked him to put a bit of that dark in a photo, he jumped with joy. And that is one funny contradiction in terms. In the end it turned out to be a photo and a film (YouTube - RVDA - INK, you google). Both exhibited at Sieb’s year long huge solo exhibition in the Dutch Children’s Book museum.. (and back to the contradiction). Sieb is no longer with us. Not for some time now. But I use his inspiration every day, and I miss him. #kusderop. . @kinderboekenmuseum #siebposthuma #ink #friend (bij Kinderboekenmuseum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYqweL9oSpl/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rvda]

Sometimes you need to change course in life, even if all around you say that that would be stupid, even if you yourself doubt it will come to any good. A choice that seems to creep up on you and just tells you what to do.

Sometimes those choices come from scars life gave you earlier..

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Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer mixed with powdered gold.

As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

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I applied this philosophy to a self portrait (thank you Stijn de Weerd for pushing the button). To symbolise that life’s scars are part of you and who you became and need not be disguised but valued.

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Years ago I made one of those choices I spoke of at the start of this text, and, though not for the first time.., tonight was a moment where that choice raised his hand and said: I was right.

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Being in a New York gallery with 3 of my works with actual meaning (“Learning to fly” is as much about Daniel Robert Silva as it is about myself) packed with New Yorkers, with loads of compliments (but that came with the territory) but also with genuine interest from the widest range of people.. it just felt right.

I’d like to thank all visitors of course, but in particular the Dutchies! In order of appearance: Carolien Borgers, Philip Huff, Regilio Tuur, Robert Kloos, Diederik Koenders, Ebbo Hervers Leuven and the-brother-of-Felicia de Costa.

I’d like to thank #celinaimielinska for her kind words and mr Jakob Bokulich for his genuine interest in the pieces and their story.

and last but not least of course Van Der Olas Gallery for having me!

Ánd last but not least (can you say that twice? No you cannot..) the team!

Both wonderful dancers

Michaela DePrince and Daniel Robert Silva (both from the Dutch National Opera and Ballet)

For styling Alex van der Steen for hair and make up Danine Zwets

Printing by Eyes on Nedia and framing by Nies Feenstra

And Never Last and Never Least... my heart goes out to LOML Susi van der Aart-Sommer, #missBess and my family and friends.. without you there’d be no me.

#kusderop

[rvda]

What a shock..

Requiescat In Pace mr Peter Lindbergh.

I learned so much from your work and cannot begin to describe the massive amount of inspiration you and your work have given me. I will always remember the few days I actually got to spend time around you.. such a creative and gentle man. you will be missed.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

#kusderop

This portrait was commissioned by VOGUE Netherlands.

Gr RVDA