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Still Live; a Modern Rebirth
Classical energy viewed through a modern lensHans Withoos, one of CAMP’s earliest members, creates intricate still life photography that integrates past and present motifs. Whether it be a still life of an octopus in a ceramic jar, or a winged man hanging from a tree, Withoos’ juxtaposition of different elements that logically do not enmesh remind the viewer of the surrealist movement from the early 20th century. Withoos’ work further references to his distant ancestor, Matthias Withoos’s, work shows his deference to the beauty and weight of the ages. That said, One would be mistaken by not pointing out that he is an unmistakably contemporary artist with a unique and fresh voice; this reinvention of work from the past is easiest seen in works like “Garden of Eden”, his rather tongue and cheek titled piece “Dutch Delight”, or even in his “cheese bakery”. His fine tuned attention to detail and technical skill are easily distinguishable with his almost relucent compositions with color coordinated elements. Pablo Picasso once said “good artists copy, great artists steal”; it is certainly true that in a way, Hans Withoos’ own mischievous theft of family history has placed him in the stratosphere of ingenious, current creatives that excite collectors and enthusiasts alike.
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"Hans Withoos is fascinated by beauty in all its aspects: the beauty of drama, of the body and of light, as well as the beauty of suffering. The photography of Hans Withoos is set in a world of abundance and artifice, suggesting a certain decadence. It is a world that is both alien and familiar. The figures that crowd his images become archetypes, leaving the viewer with a sense of alienation. His work is multi-layered, with carefully staged images and an idiosyncratic aesthetic. The images sometimes evoke emotions such as suffering, sensuality and oppressiveness; at other times they are deliberately devoid of any emotion at all."
"It was my education at the Tilburg Academy of Art that made me the person I am now. There, we learned to be free thinkers. These teachers encouraged me to be true to my own identity, to bring my dreams to life, My focus is now to show my dreams through my photographic paintings. "
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"I have learned to always stay close to my heart, to create what I think is best and not compare my work to anyone else’s. I have learned to look at the good things around me – they are free gifts – and to take in comments by friends and other people, but never let them tell me what to do "
"My motto in life is:
Reality is nothing but your own imagination "
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About his work method, he explains:
“I come up with an idea and then go looking for the right location, the models and the styling, and while I combine them to make the final image, I am still open to change, improvement and new ideas. Yes, it is staged photography. But even for me, there are always surprises in my work, an element of the unexpected. After the shooting, I then work like a painter, carefully layering the images, creating the final image in my mind and on my computer. It can take weeks before a picture is finally completed.”
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The photography of Hans Withoos is set in a world of abundance and artifice, suggesting a certain decadence. It is a world that is both alien and familiar. The figures that crowd his images become archetypes, leaving the viewer with a sense of alienation. His work is multi-layered, with carefully staged images and an idiosyncratic aesthetic. The images sometimes evoke emotions such as suffering, sensuality and oppressiveness; at other times they are deliberately devoid of any emotion at all. As Hans Withoos says: “The images don’t show a critical perspective, but rather an observant one.”
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MORE HANS WITHOOS
