Exposition Art Blog: Willem L. den Dunnen/Guillaume

Willem L. den Dunnen/Guillaume

 Guillaume is born on the 12th of June 1948 in Hardinxveld, the Netherlands as Willem Lodewijk den Dunnen. He was a student at the Academy Vredeman de Vries in Leeuwarden from 1968 till 1970. Guillaume is a very active painter, since 2012 he mostly has international exhibitions: Malmö in Sweden, Monaco -Art Monaco-, the Louvre in Paris, Studio 26 in New York, Art Fairs in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Rome, Naples, Paris Biennale and Biennale Palermo in Sicily. His work can best described as surreal or magic realistic.Guillaume says "For me, painting is mostly about looking in a different way. I try to achieve that in many ways. Through the use of the material, by using or omitting frames and, of course, by the choice of colours. And then sometimes something so new or surprising   occurs that you don’t want to let it go, you want to preserve it and experience it again. ‘’







 Award winning paintings by Guillaume


Astonishment
Dimensions: 85 x 55 cm.
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
This painting is exhibited at art gallery ‘’ Studio 26’’ in America, and is shown, after the reviews of the art curators there, in Los Angeles, Miami, etc.
Review from art critic Hans Janstad: ''Real and unreal. Realism, magic and surrealism. There, somewhere, he can be found. It’s a world, where everything is possible or impossible, which fascinates him, and it is an existence in which we can participate.
In the painting Astonishment we surprisingly find a connection with surrealism, with a dreamed, unreal scenery and with true fantasy. This creation belongs to the magic circle of art, it isn’t a dictated set of prescriptions which can’t be ignored, but a ticket to understanding what he experiences. In the paintingAstonishment a hand tries to get hold of the colours of the rainbow. Guillaume tries to bridge the gap with the unknown and, at the same time, with the world of fantasy. He has taken off his heavy, earthbound shoes, and longs to sneak cautiously towards strange grounds. The eye in the painting sees everything from a frogs' perspective.
Guillaume sees his creation as a kind of role play. He is the director who wants to change, to move beacons, to discover paths to the magic world, and even the very moment of birth of art. In Astonishment, he holds the colours of the rainbow in his grasp, and feels the freshness of the rain in his colours.

Dimensions: 100 x 70 cm (passe partout included)
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
This painting is exhibited at art gallery ‘’Studio 26’’ in New York, USA.
Review from art critic Hans Janstad:
''The colours really speak in the painting Fresh Air. The beach, the sea and the light are united in a personal symbiosis that resembles a junction of Guillaume’s artistic ambitions. The light against the dark sky, the tides creates a feeling of then and now, something lasting, in spite of variations. But much has changed of course, the often returning lighthouse in Guillaume’s paintings help him to navigate correctly, to find his way to himself and to others.''

Tower guard
Dimensions: 100 x 70 cm ( passe partout included)
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
This painting is exhibited at art gallery ‘’Studio 26’’ in New York, USA.
Review art critic Hans Janstad:''The often returning lighthouse in Guillaume’s paintings help him to navigate correctly, to find his way to himself and to others.''
Review of Stig Ĺke Stĺlnacke, member AICA :
''The beauty of his way of painting lies in the connection with his lyrical inspiration; and just like a Sam Francis or a Jackson Pollock, Guillaume creates his own alphabet, his own signs for this language, which are nothing more than fertile visions of the dream.''

Who's playing chess
Dimensions: 90 x 70 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
The answer to the question in the title of the painting is not easy to give. Do you play chess with nature or does nature play chess with you? The smoke from the volcano rises and gives animal forms such as those recognizable in the clouds which create a play between brain and imagination. The pattern of the chessboard and the chess game are rational. Just as the falling rocks and eyes. Who’s playing chess?
The painting has been reviewed by curators and exhibited at the Biennale in Palermo. Guillaume was selected as one of the 700 artists from 7000 applications worldwide to participate in this Biennale. After the Biennale this painting will be exhibited at an exposition in Florence.

In control
Dimensions: 70 x 90 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
Having control over whom or what isn’t clear. Is the game of chess under control? Is there a draw or does the chessboard need to be filled further? A hand lies on the horse’s neck with full confidence. The largest horse head has a dual dimension. It's like the horses observe each other, it is an attitude that radiates control.
During the presentation of the Palma d’Oro in Monaco on 20 september 2014, this painting was reviewed by art critics and awarded with Golden Palm.

Next move
Dimensions: 70 x 90 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
This painting was exhibited at the Biennale in Palermo and in its catalogue. After the Biennale this painting will be exhibited at an exposition in Florence.
In march/april of 2015, Next move will be published in Breathing Art magazine with a review by Prof. Anna Francesca Biondolillo.
In this game the next move is made quickly, especially when using patterns like in used in a chess game. Draw or victory end the game. The game is played very differently with guidance of the next move, or the surprise of it. Who makes the next move? In the Chinese year numbering, 2014 is the year of the horse. Guillaume has given his attention to this detail.

When fog dissapears
Dimensions: 70 x90 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
In march/april of 2105, When fog disappears will be published in the Breathing Art magazine with a review of Prof. Anna Francesca Biondolillo.
In the mist, much is drawn from our view and the raising of it creates shadows.
That what we see is it really there? And if we drive through the raising fog we will be surprised, sometimes even frightened. The nature shows itself in its own way. The human brain gives an extra dimension to what we see. What we see is not always correct.
Guillaume wanted to give his attention to the Chinese year numbering, in which 2014 is the year of the horse.

Fieldbouquet
Dimensions: 70 x 100 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
Fieldbouquet was exhibited in Rome in april 2014, published in the Eferto Arte magazine and awarded a plaque of Leonardo Incontra Canova (pittura - scultura – grafica).The observation of nature is often limited; there is only looked at what flourishes. What should stand out is the consistency of all that lives and goes on in nature.


Al light
Dimensions: 57 x 72 cm
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
Al light is exhibited in Napels and is reviewed by Prof. Pinto. This painting is one of the reasons to add Guillaume to his encyclopedia which will appear in january/february in 2015. This painting invites you to look closely at all the elements. Guillaume can daydream about it and the painting tells something of a dream. The title of the work can be double explained, It is “already light” and it is also ‘’certain”. Nature has the lead role because it always survives. You will see two hands; one who controls the weather and one that holds a candle. The air clears and gives daylight, the candle pushed/held gives light by insufficient daylight. Only the female candles burn. The flames seem cheerful; they don’t only give light but also heat, and danger lurks in open fire. Nature is in motion; an explosion, smoke, shadows looming in the background. The sun ,although blinded, is also there, clouds are also watching. The hand brings the light; and likes to embrace the feminine aspects.

Abundance
Dimensions: 70 x 100 cm,
Painting: professional printing ink and oilpaint combined on pure paperboard.
This painting is published in the catalogue of Art Fair ‘’Art Monaco’’ of 2013.
Water in abundance: however, this cannot be said everywhere. In our region rain can even bring us to tears, they sometimes are too much to take. The painting connects us easily with the song: “Rain and tears all the same, but in the sun you have to play the game.” Tears too can flow easily as well as being scarce, even to such an extend that they can be seen as costly pearls. Joy gives its own pleasant meaning to tears and to rain: 'Walking in the rain'....
The sun and the moon reflect the times, light and darkness; but rain and tears are not so much bothered by them. They rather belong to a world of perceptions and meaningfulness.

Follow the money
Dimensions: 70 x 90 cm (passe partout included)
Painting: professional printing ink and oil paint combined on pure paperboard.
In December 2014, Follow the money was awarded the Biennial Paris award at the Hotel Banke in Paris, France.
This painting, like the other works of Guillaume, can be best described as surreal or magic realistic. For this painting, Guillaume used a few symbols; the dragon, the fish, coins and the dog. For Guillaume painting is mostly about looking in a different way, which he tries to achieve in a variety of ways; by the use of the material, by using or omitting frames and, of course, by the choice of colours.
And then sometimes something so new or surprising occurs that you don’t want to let it go, you want to preserve it and experience it again.













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