Ronald Ophuis
I wish for you to feel what has happened, and for the words to become terribly and unimaginably meaningful—through what the image evokes.
Ronald Ophuis via Het Financieel Dagblad, 2009
Ronald Ophuis’ (1968, the Netherlands) place in the Dutch art world is entirely his own. His paintings deal with portentous subjects, basing his work on the, oftentimes rather somber, photos and newspaper articles in the mainstream media. He tries to depict that which cannot be seen in such a photograph. Since it’s impossible to show everything, visual reporting is censured by definition and, according to Ophuis, therein lies an opportunity for art. Ophuis paints themes like war in a classical style, confronting us with everything we don’t want to be confronted with.
