Coen Vunderink (Dalfsen, 1979) is a Dutch artist who has found his home in the north of the Netherlands, where he both lives and works. The vast landscapes, the water, the skies and the unique light in the north are a constant source of inspiration. The space and peace that the north offers allow him to develop his creativity. The colorful paintings invite the viewer to introspection and contemplation.
"A fascinating interaction between material and image can be observed in the paintings of Coen Vunderink. The ordinary notion of these two basic concepts play on each other, distort, and appear to be expressed with a clarity that reveals great nuance. The play of the work shows art history, coincidence, the figurative, the abstract and the techniques of many centuries of painting, and how all this moves in the fingers of the artist to ultimately arrive at the work of art. But nowhere do you find strictly separated contradictions.” (Hester Alberdingk Thijm, head of AkzoNobel collection, in 2022.)
In the paintings on show in 'Noordertrots', Vunderink literally continues his previous work, often using his old abstract paintings as a background. Remnants of these works shine through in the landscapes painted over them, creating an intriguing layering. The patterns, remnants of net curtains and other stencils painted with spray paint give the landscapes a deeper layer and invite the viewer to wander through the different levels of meaning and interpretation.
The landscapes that Vunderink paints are inspired by places where he likes to walk, fish or sail in Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland. The artist composes the painterly landscapes from photos and memories. They become universal places that the viewer can appropriate. It can become your favorite place! Depending on the painting being painted over, a certain atmosphere is created and Vunderink is open to coincidences and 'presents'. Sometimes all kinds of things happen at the edges of the painting. Something may happen to you when you invest in watching. The landscapes are frameworks for painterly adventure. The frame exposes layers that are present in the painting and, like annual rings of a tree, provide information about the growth of the artwork. The sides of the painting are not painted, but show which painting served as the background.
The landscapes that Vunderink paints are not realistic representations, but rather painterly translations of atmosphere, light, temperature, wind and rain. The colors follow the seasons, allowing his works to reflect a constant evolution and harmony with the natural environment. The title Noordertrots refers to a quality mark of local products from the North: Cheese, milk, eggs and now also painting. Vunderink emphasizes the local inspiration and production of his work by sometimes mentioning a place name, a specific water or a feeling or personal event in the titles. For Vunderink, this choice is both artistic and personal. Instead of looking for inspiration far away and in another language, he finds it in the north of the Netherlands, far away from the hustle and bustle of a big city.
'With a Noordertrots product you always choose a special product. A product made with passion and craftsmanship for and by the North. To enjoy yourself, but especially to share. Because shared Northern pride is double the enjoyment!'