Wedergeboorte = Reborn

I was wondering what would be the best topic to start a blog on my website. And some time ago I came to the conclusion that maybe I would start by describing some current exhibition that I am taking part in. But as everyone knows, the hardest thing is the first step and starting anything. And so since this idea came to my mind, exhibitions have started and ended. No, I am not the best at PR, not yet, but at least I have a goal to strive for.

Wedergeboorte in Dutch means reborn, it is the title of the exhibition that I am taking part in now, and to which I was invited by Zhanhong Liao, an artist of Chinese origin, living and working, like me, in Schiedam in the Netherlands. Zhanhong is not only a participant in this exhibition, but also curates it. She invited artists from the KunstWerkt group of non-Dutch origin and children studying at Wereldschool to participate. With this exhibition, Zhanhong draws attention to people coming to this city and settling here from different corners of the world, to the changes that are taking place because of it. She invites dialogue and paying attention to other cultures and what we can mean to each other. She puts migration and integration on a pedestal, and the personal experiences of those who bring their own individual experiences and culture to a new town. This exhibition is also a way to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of the city of Schiedam, which we are celebrating this year. It shows us that all residents create the place they live in and are its positive value.

I also showed my works at the exhibition. Two oil paintings from 2024 and a recently finished one, especially for this exhibition from 2025, and 3 older linocuts from 2017 and 2018. I will write about one of these works in the next post, because it is about Schiedam and, in addition, it will be distinguished in a very special way.