Gert-Jan Akerboom
born: 05/07/78 Gouda (NL)

 

(Education/art related experience)

1990-1995 woodcrafts and building, de Wadde, Waddinxveen (NL)
1995-2000 graphic design and illustration, Grafisch Lyceum, Rotterdam (NL)
2000-2005 bachelor in fine arts, Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam (NL)
2009 Asistant of american artist "Julie Mehretu" in her berlin studio.

(Artist Statement)

Instead of trying to create something from scratch, only to discover that it has already been done, I rather try to piece together parts of pre-existing images and cultural fragments in order to create something completely new.

The drawings which result can be seen as a collection of undefined symbols, a collage of images, a series of marks on paper. The concept of collaging is a big part of my process, pulling together images not only from my own experience but also from the collective consciousness we all share and which the information age allows us to access as a vast, jumbled and sprawling archive. Many of the images in my drawings were first found online - slices of information which each have a unique origin, but are endlessly rediscovered, reassessed, reproduced, so that the original meaning ascribed to them is lost.

The images I collage together are each imbued with their own personal meaning and significance for the viewer, depending on what they know about owls, flags, bonsai trees, building debris - whatever they happen to be seeing. I want to give the viewer a completely new understanding of these different elements via their juxtaposition on a sheet of paper. The point is not that there is a definitive meaning to be derived from that juxtaposition, but that the meaning belongs entirely to the viewer: they are provided with the raw materials to create a world of understanding which is entirely of their own making.

(Exhibitions)

2010 - "Show V" groupshow at MMX - Berlin, Germany
2010 - "Vörwarts" groupshow at Kunstraum Richard Sorge - Berlin, Germany
2010 - "Tabletop bonsai" solo at Nano Gallery, LA
2010 - "the BIG anouncement" solo at The Center For Endless Progress, Berlin
2010 - "Flatfile" at Golden Parachutes, Berlin
2009 - "FUKT, magazine for contemporary drawing" #7 1/2 for the NY Art Book Fair at PS1.
2009 - "Berliner Kunstsalon" presented by "Kunstraum Richard Sorge" - Berlin, Germany.
2009 - "Dreamwatching" Solo show at "Kunstraum Richard Sorge" - Berlin, Germany.
2009 - "get free %" groupshow at "golden parachutes" - Berlin, Germany.
2009 - "qindblogazine" artist interview. (www.qindblogazine.com)
2009 - "Schoen von tinten" groupshow at Cafe CK - Berlin, Germany
2009 - "Assistant group show" at julie mehretu studio - Berlin, Germany
2009 - "A5 Magazine" published a drawing in their 7th issue "hero"
2009 - "Anonymous drawing" at "fruehsorge contemporary drawing" Berlin, Germany
2009 - "Schachteldenken" project by Maria Lousa Stock and Roos Versteeg - Berlin, Germany
2009 - "No-tears" PDF Artmagazine.
2009 - "bring down your ruler" Groupshow at "Atelierhof Kreuzberg" - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "Anonymous Drawings" at 'Kunstraum Kreuzberg / Bethanien' - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "BHC Kollektiv - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "Nomad Biennial of tehran" at 'NEWYORCK in BETHANIEN' - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "Goodbye Hirofumi" at Waschhaus gallery - Berlin,Germany.
2008 - "2nd Bankok triennale for drawing and print" - Bangkok, Thailand.
2008 - "Negative Party" at Waschhaus Gallery - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "YES" at Showroom MAMA - Rotterdam, Holland.
2008 - "13th Lindart" at castle gallery - Lendava, Slovenia.
2008 - "Anonymous Drawing" (selection) at Stadtscheune Gallery - Ottendorf, Germany.
2008 - "Joint Custody Project" at Raab Gallery - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "Dark sky" online magazine.
2008 - "Nomad Biennial" at Parkingallery - Istanbul, Turkey.
2008 - "Draw-in" at 00130 Gallery - Helsinki, Finland.
2008 - "Anonymous Drawing nr.8" at Meinblau - Berlin, Germany.
2008 - "Game Zone de Singel" - Antwerp, Belgium.