On his website it says Ko van 't Hek: copywriter, philosopher, art viewer. Mr Motley's website states: "Ko van 't Hek is known as the worst-read philosopher in the Netherlands, as half of the duo Kunst Kijken met Ko & Kho and of course as the first Ko van' t Hek Laureate.” Van ‘t Hek writes mini-essays for Mister Motley about meeting a work of art. That is something you can home with, right? But nowhere to read, is that Ko is also the man of essays with brilliant titles such as 'Be happy, be happy, be damn happy',' Shit makes for solidarity',' Pink is only relative', “No better comfort than grey comfort', 'Life between eyelashes', and I can go on like this for a while. Gems of poetry, each and every one of them. You should also know that Ko is one of the few people who is able to talk about art with sincere questions and feelings of discomfort. That he does not hide himself behind cynicism or negligence, but that he has turned questioning and describing art into an artform itself. The great thing is, Ko doesn't run for discomfort, pain or melancholy, but looks the monster straight in the eye. Just as he looks at an artwork. Even if it has sharp teeth. And what I almost forgot to mention: according to his website, Ko is always up for work and black coffee. And finally, Ko wouldn’t be Ko if he didn't give us, readers and art viewers, an assignment.
Art has a mean side to it, sharp teeth. Of course, art can be beautiful, comfort you, lift you up and put you down a little further on. But it can also upset you. A dagger that is being inserted and turned in your stomach. Unpleasant, nasty, nauseating. But when those first displaced feelings have subsided, this stinging devil has made room for something new. The wound is an undescribed spot, a white sheet of paper, an opportunity for growth. However inconvenient we need it. Without pain we would stand still.