Patricio
In 1995 I made a series of portrait studies at the Art Academy in Den Bosch. My life was a bit schizophrenic. I went to art school, I had several side jobs, and I went to house parties. It was a powerful and exhausting time with transitions and transformation.
Portraits
This oil painting is a portrait study of Patrico, a fellow student. So we knew each other. I painted this portrait of him. I knew the people he hung out with. And as far as I can remember, he was a kind person. And yet, I did not know him at all. I hardly knew him.
Fascinating
Isn’t it fascinating how physically close you can be with someone? Sometimes for years. (I was at the Art Academy in total for five years). And yet hardly knowing the people you share so much time with in the same space.
Who was he?
Maybe he was Spanish? Or from Argentina? Was I not interested? Why did I not know this? Had I too little time? Or is this something that mattered later but not at that time? Whatever the case, I did have the interest to paint him. I painted him in the energy I felt. Warm, earthly, kind, and open.
