In 2019, Dirk Zoete (1969) held an exhibition entitled So Called Human at Galerie Maurits van de Laar. Visiting the show, Folkert de Jong (1972) recognized in Zoete's work an attitude that he encountered in the subject matter of more fellow artists. You can characterize it as searching one's own path, apart from or even against prevailing trends, looking for a source and form of expression that is very personal, disarming and sometimes naive. The image of a pilgrim for whom the journey is more important than the final destination came up.
The exhibition’s title, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, derives from Joseph Campbell's eponymous cultural study, in which he analyzes various archetypes and mythologies as vehicles through which people try to interpret the world. Folkert de Jong, along with Jan Dietvorst (1953) and the gallery, selected a group of artists who work in this spirit, which they describe as follows:
“In the classic model of the Wild West film, the protagonist rides out of town on his horse after the shoot-out. He has just freed the community from a crime but does not wait for the reward. By being unfettered, his judgment remains pure. In the deserted main street, he acted only according to his inner conviction.
He moves on like a pilgrim, arriving somewhere is less important than being on the road every day. In the self-chosen simplicity of his existence, you suspect knowledge and wisdom. The Hero With a Thousand Faces is an exhibition about the similarities between pilgrims, mystics, cowboys, and priestesses.”