The concept of destruction preceding creation is given tangible form in the work of artist Ton van Kints (The Hague, 1955). His pieces are marked by traces of a working method that could be seen as both destructive and constructive. Van Kints saws wooden panels into simple, loose pieces and then reassembles them into a self-made puzzle, forming a cohesive whole. The complexity of the composition is always tempered by the readability of the process. His enigmatic titles often allude to the event that has taken place under his hands, shaping the narrative of the finished piece.
The material largely determines the appearance of Van Kints’ work. He respects how the material behaves, but also subjects it to his own scenario. He speaks of his pieces as if they were characters, co-actors in his artistic process. They are directed by the artist himself. It is a process of fitting, measuring, and rearranging.
This led to the creation of a large group of circular reliefs, collectively known as ‘koekoeksnesten’ (cuckoo nests). These works are interrelated, each with their own distinctive character. Van Kints’ most recent pieces are created by mounting two or more pieces together. He treats these “leftovers” in the same way he previously rearranged sawn-off segments. The underlying logic of Van Kints’ art – the dialogue with things – remains unchanged. The reliefs have become thicker, stacked and covered with a layer of epoxy. This glossy layer unifies the pieces, but hints of the earlier work remain visible. This is the “dialogica” of Van Kints.
Van Kints studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (MO-B Drawing 1974-1979) and the Pratt Graphic Center in New York (1981-82). He has been a teacher at the departments of Photography and Fine Arts at the KABK in The Hague since 1990.
www.ftn-books.com has a fine selction of van Kints publications available.
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