Robert de Haan
My name is Robert Ieuan de Haan aka Rohan, I’m half Dutch and half Welsh. I am a painter although I experiment with all kinds of media. Born in Belgium in 1996, soon it was defined for me to be an artist when from a young age I couldn’t stop drawing and painting. My work now is a little something like this: Obscene flowers, tattooed vases, post modern angelic nudes.
A rough blend of colourful harmony is what my work displays. The world is torn and reconstructed everyday and that is what these works portray. I love the way a splash of paint and a tear of paper can create forms the brain could not think of first. I like to think of life as a collage and in its brief moments of serenity is when I create these pieces.
Dutch/Welsh artist Robert de Haan, often gets lost in the dramatic welsh mountains. The perfect place to be inspired. Colours, nature and scenes are in abundance although perhaps not the exotic fantasy that you seen in his work.
Clashing colours, vibrant tones and loose paint work mixed with wild scenes contrast against the purely classical themes. Broken tattooed pots and goddess like figures are a pastiche of ancient Greece. The mosaic paintings that are recurring themes are the instant attraction. Yet the flat perspective de Haan creates, evokes this sense of a cracked beautiful reality.
I look forward to seeing how his work progresses and what will inspire him next.
[Ostrich] HI robert, How’re you doing today?
[Robert de Haan] I’m good thank you. Even with everything going on .
Where about’s are you, answering these questions?
Im currently situated in Cardiff, which luckily is surrounded by mountains to get lost in. The nature is beautiful here but unfortunately it rains a lot.
How long have you been an artist?
I like to think that I’ve been an artist for 25 years, but technically its only been about 2 years professionally.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work?
First of all it’s great to have painting as an outlet for the situation that we’ve found ourselves in, I feel terrible for people who don’t have an outlet, something to keep themselves occupied. It has changed my way of working and my work In general I guess because of the space I have, I moved during the pandemic to a small house in the valleys, really only having a tiny room to call a “studio” and with the weather the place became very depressing, I would spend hours in complete silence painting.
Luckily I had family there and my partner. I think we all have been questioning mortality a lot more and that has been seen in my work through the shift of colours and amount of work I have produced.
What inspires you?
Other artists, literature, the world. Inspiration is derived from tiny moments in which you’ll catch a glimpse of beauty. The other day I was siting at the train station and I spotted a green bridge with white arches, its times like that that we truly forget about everything else and are for once, in the moment.
Do you ever collaborate with people?
Yes, I recently worked on some vases with stoned hardware. I’mm not sure on any collaborations in the future but I’m always looking to
If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive who would it be?
ALIVE: Terry urban, his work is great and is definitely someone to watch. Julien Jaca’s work is amazing. Dead: James Morrison, I would’ve loved to use his poetry to create art with, I might still use it. I would’ve loved to have seen abstract expressionism in its prime, motherwell, Rothko & Kline. Francis bacon is another artist that I hugely admire, the list goes on and on.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on a collection for my next exhibition that’s all I can say at the moment as it is very much a work in progress.
You have a very clear style/strong style. How long did it take you to find your style?
I think my style is defined most by the colours as I change the subject quite a lot of what I’m painting. It took me a while to get my head around what I wanted to paint, i’m still not entirely sure. you have to keep developing as an artist, not only for creative purpose but also to not get bored of doing the same thing over and over again.
Is there any symbolism / hidden meanings within your work?
With some paintings yes, others not so much, depends on what mood Im in when i’m painting.
If you could change one thing about the art world what would it be?
To stop so called “elite” groups ruling out people from joining them. I have been rejected more times than I can remember, and I’m glad I did because it made me stronger and more dedicated. Don’t trust anyone’s opinion but your own when it comes to your work. You should be your strongest critic. And a lot of the time the people that are the loudest have the least to say.
If you could give someone one piece of advice at the beginning of their career, what would you say to them?
Try not to study too much, allow yourself to train within your own style, by looking up to other artists we tend to copy them. Also don’t let it get you down that a gallery doesn’t want to show your work or doesn’t reply to your email. Throw your own exhibition instead, let what hurts you, fuel you to be better and think of better alternatives.
Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years time?
I would like to see myself where Picasso was, more money than you can spend, fame and breathing art but don’t we all. And maybe open my own gallery, I think I would enjoy that.
Colour is clearly crucial to your work. IS there a particular reason or meaning behind your use of such bold colours?
Not really, I just like to use colours that normally would not work together but somehow do. I tried doing black and white but I physically can’t do it, the more colour the better in my opinion.
Is there a source of inspiration that you continue to go back to?
My earlier work, to see the progress. It’s important to see how you transition as an artist.
Is there somebody/friend or artist that inspires you in particular?
A good friend of mine, Gregory, he works extremely hard and is very dedicated to reach his goal, we believe in each other and I think that makes either of us want to do better, I’m very lucky to have him as a friend.
Who/what is your greatest source of inspiration?
Me.
Which city best suits the soul of your artworks?
Paris, I am hoping to move there eventually. I always visited as a young child, I think it’s like actors who go to Hollywood and for painters it’s Paris.. make or break.
What is your favourite painting/work of art you have ever done?
Honestly, I don’t have any really. Of course there have been some I’ve been incredibly fond of, proud even. But usually the romance wears off, i’m still not happy with what I’m producing but hopefully one day I can look back and go, that one is okay haha.
So lovely to talk to you today, anything else planned for the day?
I’m packing, we’re allowed to travel again so I’ll be heading to London to look at art and dive into bars from place to place, hopefully see you there.
